Dinoflagellates are flagellated protists that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, acting as both primary producers and consumers. Their ability to switch between autotrophy and heterotrophy based on environmental conditions allows them to adapt dynamically to fluctuating marine environments. This metabolic flexibility influences global biogeochemical cycles, including carbon and nutrient cycling, and contributes to marine productivity. Additionally, some dinoflagellates are known to cause harmful algal blooms, impacting marine ecosystems and human health. Due to their ecological significance, understanding the regulatory mechanisms behind their nutritional strategies is essential for predicting their role in marine food webs under changing environmental conditions.

This study focuses on Ansanella, a mixotrophic dinoflagellate, to examine how environmental factors such as salinity, light intensity, and prey availability influence its nutritional strategy. Experimental results reveal that lower salinity slows cell growth, while high light intensity promotes autotrophy, leading to increased cell concentrations. These findings suggest that Ansanella adjusts its metabolism based on external cues, highlighting the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying its nutritional plasticity. However, the molecular basis of these metabolic transitions remains largely unexplored.

A key question in our research is whether the shift between autotrophy and heterotrophy is regulated epigenetically. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, have been shown to play a role in cellular responses to environmental stress in various organisms. We hypothesize that similar mechanisms might control Ansanella‘s ability to modulate its nutritional mode in response to environmental changes. Ongoing experiments aim to investigate whether epigenetic regulation contributes to this metabolic plasticity, providing insights into the broader role of epigenetics in marine microbial adaptations. Understanding these mechanisms will enhance our knowledge of dinoflagellate ecology and their responses to global environmental shifts.