Photosynthesis is an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Half of this photosynthesis occurs in the ocean by single-celled algae called phytoplankton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Young Lab investigates the physiological adaptations in phytoplankton to optimize their productivity. The aim is to better predict how phytoplankton productivity and thus their ability to capture carbon dioxide will respond to future change. There are two main research themes: (1) to identify and understand adaptations to extreme environments, such as the polar oceans, and (2) to examine the adaptation and co-evolution of the carbon fixing enzyme, Rubisco, and carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs). See here<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heureux, A.M.C., Young, J.N.,<\/strong> Whitney, S.M, Eason-Hubbard, M.R., Lee, R. B. Y., Sharwood, R., Rickaby, R.E.M. (2017) The Role of Rubisco kinetics and pyrenoid morphology in shaping the CCM of Haptophyte microalgae” Journal of Experimental Botany<\/em> erx179<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N<\/strong>, Hopkinson, B.M. (2017) The potential for co-evolution of CO2 concentrating mechanisms and RubisCO in diatoms. Journal of Experimental Botany<\/em> erx130<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N.,<\/strong> Heureux, A.M.C., Sharwood, R.E., Rickaby, R.E.M., Whitney, S.M. (2017) Rubisco extraction and purification from diatoms. Bioprotocols<\/em> 7(6): e2191<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Deming, J.W. and Young, J.N<\/strong>. (2016) The role of expolysaccharides in microbial adaptation to cold habitats, in Psychrophiles: From Biodiversity to Biotechnology<\/em>, 2nd Edition<\/em> Ed Rosa Margesin, Springer p259-284<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N.,<\/strong> Heureux, A.M.C., Sharwood, R.E., Rickaby, R.E.M., Whitney, S.M. (2016) The variation in diatom Rubisco kinetics reveals diversity in the efficiency of their carbon concentrating mechanisms. Journal of Experimental Botany<\/em>, 67(11): 3445-3456. doi:10.1093\/jxb\/erw163<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J. N.<\/strong> & Morel, F. M. M. (2015) Biological oceanography: The CO2 switch in diatoms. Nature Climate Change,<\/em> 5: 722-723, doi:10.1038\/nclimate2691.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N.<\/strong>, Kranz, S., Goldman, J., Tortell, P.D., Morel, F.M.M. (2015) Under high CO2, Antarctic phytoplankton down-regulate their carbon concentrating mechanisms with no change in growth rates. Marine Ecology Progress Series<\/em>532: 13-28, doi: 10.3354\/meps11336<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N.<\/strong>, Goldman, J., Kranz, S., Tortell, P.D., Morel, F.M.M. (2015) Slow carboxylation of Rubisco constrains the rate of carbon fixation during Antarctic phytoplankton blooms. New Phytologist<\/em> 205 (1): 172-181. DOI: 10.1111\/nph.13021<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Goldman, J., Kranz, S., Young, J.N.,<\/strong> Tortell, P.D., Bender, M., Morel, F.M.M. (2015) Gross and net production during the spring bloom along the Western Antarctic Peninsula New Phytologist <\/em>205 (1): 182-191. DOI: 10.1111\/nph.13125.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kranz, S., Young, J.N<\/strong>., Goldman, J., Tortell, P.D., Bender, M., Morel, F.M.M. (2015) Low temperature reduces the energetic requirement for the CO2 concentrating mechanism in diatoms. New Phytologist<\/em> 205 (1): 192-201. DOI: 10.1111\/nph.12976<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hopkinson, B., Young, J.N<\/strong>., Tanskik, A.L., Binder, B. J. (2014) The minimal CO2 concentrating mechanism of Prochlorococcus<\/em> (MED4) is effective and efficient. Plant Physiology<\/em> 166(4):2205-17<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tortell, P.D., Asher, E.C., Dacey, J.W.H. Kranz, S., Young, J.N.<\/strong>, Goldman, J. Ducklow, H., Grzymski, J. Stanley, R., Morel, F.M.M. (2014) Metabolic balance of coastal Antarctic waters revealed by autonomous high frequency p<\/em>CO2 and \uf044O2 \/Ar measurements Geophysical Research Letters DOI: 10.1002\/2014GL061266<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N.<\/strong>, Bruggeman, J. Rickaby, R.E.M., Erez, J., Conte, M. (2013) Evidence of changes in isotopic fractionation by phytoplankton between 1960 and 2010. Global Biogeochemical Cycles <\/em>27 DOI:10.1002\/gbc.20045<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Losh, J., Young, J.N<\/strong>. Morel, F.M (2013) Rubisco is a small fraction of total protein in marine phytoplankton, New Phytologist <\/em>198: 52-58<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Young, J.N<\/strong>., Rickaby, R.E.M, Kapralov, M., Filatov, D. (2012) Adaptive signals in algal Rubisco reveal a history of ancient atmospheric carbon dioxide. Phil Trans Roy Soc B<\/em> 267 (1588):483-492<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCurrent Students:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Selected Publications<\/h3>