Proteomic responses of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi to zinc limitation and trace metal substitution.

Zinc concentrations in pelagic surface waters are within the range that limits growth in marine phytoplankton cultures. However, the influence of zinc on marine primary production and phytoplankton communities is not straightforward due to largely uncharacterized abilities for some phytoplankton to access zinc species that may not be universally bioavailable and substitute zinc with cobalt or cadmium. We used a quantitative proteomic approach to investigate these strategies and other responses to zinc limitation in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi, a dominant species in low zinc waters.