Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a conserved protein kinase that integrates nutrient and energy signals to control growth and metabolism, yet its proteome-level impact in microalgae remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted quantitative proteomics analysis of the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae under rapamycin-induced TOR inactivation to characterize global changes in protein abundance. TOR inhibition triggered widespread metabolic remodeling, including coordinated shifts in carbon and nitrogen allocation, and pronounced changes in protein synthesis, photosynthesis, and energy metabolism. Specifically, proteins associated with ribosome biogenesis and ribosomal subunits declined broadly, indicating impaired translation, alongside pronounced reductions in photosynthetic components, including PSI/PSII subunits and chlorophyll biosynthesis enzymes. In contrast, triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis and starch metabolism were enhanced, indicating a shift towards carbon storage. Notably, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT; CMQ199C) and a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP; CMS159C) were strongly induced (2.02-fold and 3.48-fold, respectively), identifying them as candidate targets for enhancing TAG and starch accumulation. Proteins associated with nitrogen assimilation were also upregulated, supporting TOR-dependent regulation of nitrogen metabolism at the protein level. Together, these results indicate that TOR orchestrates proteome-level reprogramming in C. merolae, coordinating growth, energy production, and carbon storage across interconnected metabolic pathways.
Putcha et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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