Comparative Metabolite Profiling of Antarctic and Korean Mosses: Insights into Adaptation Mechanisms of Antarctic Moss Species

TL;DR

Antarctic mosses have higher levels of stress-fighting compounds than Korean mosses, helping them survive harsh conditions and offering potential for biotech uses.

Contribution

The study reveals unique biochemical adaptations in Antarctic mosses through comparative metabolite profiling.

Findings

Antarctic mosses have significantly higher total phenolic and flavonoid content than Korean mosses.

Antarctic mosses show greater antioxidant activity and a higher diversity of metabolites, including terpenoids and flavonoids.

Adaptations in lipid composition in Antarctic mosses help maintain membrane fluidity under cold stress.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between secondary metabolites and stress tolerance in moss species, with a specific emphasis on comparing Antarctic and Korean mosses. Analyses of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) revealed that Antarctic mosses contain these compounds at significantly higher levels compared to the Korean mosses. These findings are consistent with greater antioxidant activities observed in Antarctic mosses through DPPH and ABTS•+ radical scavenging assays. In this study, a total of 620 metabolites were identified from the moss samples. The results showed that Antarctic mosses exhibited a high number and diversity of compounds including terpenoids, flavonoids, lipids, and other classes. Additionally, Antarctic mosses had fewer lipids with carbon chain lengths below 18 and a higher content of unsaturated lipids, indicating adaptations to maintain membrane fluidity under cold stress. The phylogenetic relationships suggested a correlation between metabolite profiles and genetic adaptations between these species. This research highlights the complex biochemical strategies that mosses, particularly those in Antarctic regions, employ to adapt the environmental stressors. The high abundance of secondary metabolites in Antarctic mosses not only serves as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress but also suggests their potential applications in various biotechnological aspects. This study reveals new avenues for exploring the ecological roles and potential uses of these resilient plant species.

Figures