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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae

Published on: December 4, 2021

Algae and humans share a molybdate transporter.

Manuel Tejada-Jiménez¹, Aurora Galván, Emilio Fernández

¹Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|April 6, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers discovered MoT2, a novel molybdate transporter found in both algae and humans. This protein is crucial for molybdenum uptake, essential for life, and represents a new family of transporters.

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element for all living organisms, required for the activity of key enzymes.
Molybdate is the form of Mo taken up by cells, but its transporters in eukaryotes are not fully understood.
MOT1 is a known molybdate transporter in plants, but it is absent in animals.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and characterize novel molybdate transporters in eukaryotes, particularly those present in animals.
To investigate the function and characteristics of a newly identified molybdate transporter, MoT2.

Main Methods:

Gene identification and analysis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and human genomes.
Gene knockdown experiments in Chlamydomonas to assess molybdate uptake.
Heterologous expression of MoT2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for functional complementation.
Biochemical characterization of molybdate transport kinetics (Km).

Main Results:

A new molybdate transporter, MoT2, was identified in Chlamydomonas and humans, distinct from the MOT1 family.
Knockdown of CrMoT2 in Chlamydomonas resulted in reduced molybdate uptake.
Heterologous expression confirmed the molybdate transport activity of both Chlamydomonas (CrMoT2) and human (HsMOT2) proteins.
MoT2 exhibits high-affinity molybdate transport (apparent Km ~550 nM) and its transcription is regulated by molybdate availability.

Conclusions:

MoT2 represents a previously undescribed family of molybdate transporters conserved across eukaryotes, including animals.
This discovery expands our understanding of molybdenum uptake mechanisms and homeostasis in animals.
MoT2 is essential for cellular molybdate acquisition and likely plays a significant role in Moco biosynthesis.