Ultraviolet radiation and echinoderms: past, present and future perspectives

Physiological response and molecular mechanisms against UV-B radiation in Brachionus asplanchnoidis (Rotifera)

Ultraviolet B (UV-B, 280-320 nm) radiation is a major environmental stressor for aquatic organisms on Earth's surface. Its effects on biological systems are well known, but the mechanisms by which organisms respond and adapt to UV-B radiation are still being explored. In this study, we investigated the effects of UV-B radiation on the monogonont rotifer Brachionus asplanchnoidis, focusing on physiological parameters, antioxidant systems, DNA damage, and DNA repair-related molecular mechanism. Our results showed that the LD50 was at 28.53 kJ/m2, indicating strong tolerance to UV-B. However, UV-B radiation caused adverse effects on growth and reproduction, with shortened reproductive period and longevity, decreased fecundity and hatchability, and inhibition of population growth. Biochemical analyses revealed severe oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, with increased ROS and MDA levels. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were highly induced at low doses but decreased at high doses. DNA damage also occurred in UV-B-exposed rotifers. Furthermore, selected DNA repair-related genes were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of UV-B radiation on rotifers and highlight the importance of considering both ecological and molecular responses in assessing the impact of UV-B radiation on aquatic organisms.

Reproductive plasticity of Hawaiian Montipora corals following thermal stress

Ocean warming, fueled by climate change, is the primary cause of coral bleaching events which are predicted to increase in frequency. Bleaching is generally damaging to coral reproduction, can be exacerbated by concomitant stressors like ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and can have lasting impacts to successful reproduction and potential adaptation. We compared morphological and physiological reproductive metrics (e.g., sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane integrity, egg volume, gametes per bundle, and fertilization and settlement success) of two Hawaiian Montipora corals after consecutive bleaching events in 2014 and 2015. Between the species, sperm motility and mitochondrial membrane potential had the most disparate results. Percent sperm motility in M. capitata, which declined to ~ 40% during bleaching from a normal range of 70-90%, was still less than 50% motile in 2017 and 2018 and had not fully recovered in 2019 (63% motile). By contrast, percent sperm motility in Montipora spp. was 86% and 74% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. This reduction in motility was correlated with damage to mitochondria in M. capitata but not Montipora spp. A major difference between these species is the physiological foundation of their UVR protection, and we hypothesize that UVR protective mechanisms inherent in Montipora spp. mitigate this reproductive damage.

The effects of ultraviolet radiation and climate on oil toxicity to coral reef organisms - A review

Oil pollution remains a significant local threat to shallow tropical coral reef environments, but the environmental conditions typical of coral reefs are rarely considered in oil toxicity testing and risk assessments. Here we review the effects of three environmental co-factors on petroleum oil toxicity towards coral reef organisms, and show that the impacts of oil pollution on coral reef taxa can be exacerbated by environmental conditions commonly encountered in tropical reef environments. Shallow reefs are routinely exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which can substantially increase the toxicity of some oil components through phototoxicity. Exposure to UVR represents the most likely and harmful environmental co-factor reviewed here, leading to an average toxicity increase of 7.2-fold across all tests reviewed. The clear relevance of UVR co-exposure and its strong influence on tropical reef oil toxicity highlights the need to account for UVR as a standard practice in future oil toxicity studies. Indeed, quantifying the influence of UVR on toxic thresholds of oil to coral reef species is essential to develop credible oil spill risk models required for oil extraction developments, shipping management and spill responses in the tropics. The few studies available indicate that co-exposure to elevated temperature and low pH, both within the range of current daily and seasonal fluctuations and/or projected under continued climate change, can increase oil toxicity on average by 3.0- and 1.3-fold, respectively. While all three of the reviewed environmental co-factors have the potential to substantially increase the impacts of oil pollution in shallow reef environments, their simultaneous effects have not been investigated. Assessments of the combined effects of oil pollution, UVR, temperature and low pH will become increasingly important to identify realistic hazard thresholds suitable for future risk assessments over the coming century.

Transgenerational effects of UV-B radiation on egg size, fertilization, hatching and larval size of sea urchins Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Transgenerational effects are important for phenotypic plasticity and adaptation of marine invertebrates in the changing ocean. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is an increasing threat to marine invertebrates. For the first time, we reported positive and negative transgenerational effects of UV-B radiation on egg size, fertilization, hatchability and larval size of a marine invertebrate. Strongylocentrotus intermedius exposed to UV-B radiation showed positive transgenerational effects and adaptation on egg size, hatching rate and post-oral arm length of larvae. Negative transgenerational effects were found in body length, stomach length and stomach width of larvae whose parents were exposed to UV-B radiation. Sires probably play important roles in transgenerational effects of UV-B. The present study provides valuable information into transgenerational effects of UV-B radiation on fitness related traits of sea urchins (at least Strongylocentrotus intermedius).

Transcriptomes reveal genes involved in covering and sheltering behaviors of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius exposed to UV-B radiation

Although the potential link exists between behavioral responses to UV-B radiation and the maximization of fitness, molecular mechanisms of these UV-B induced behaviors remain poorly understood. For the first time, we investigated the transcriptomes of covered (CB), sheltered (SB) and non-protected (NA) sea urchins Strongylocentrotus intermedius exposed to UV-B radiation. A total of 330 differentially expressed genes were revealed by transcriptome comparisons. By comparing with the group NA, we found 79 up-regulated and 118 down-regulated genes in SB group, as well as 26 up-regulated and 67 down-regulated genes in group CB. There were 34 up-regulated genes and 52 down-regulated genes in group SB, compared with group CB. These differentially expressed genes failed to enrich either Gene Ontology (GO) or Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), only except an enrichment in KEGG. We highlighted TRPA1 and Opsin as key neurobiological genes involved in the molecular mechanisms of covering and sheltering behaviors of sea urchins exposed to UV-B radiation. What's more, other identified genes provide valuable resources for future investigations on the molecular basis of covering and sheltering behaviors of sea urchins.

Carryover effects of short-term UV-B radiation on fitness related traits of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Carryover effects of UV-B radiation are largely unknown in marine invertebrates, despite the ecological importance. For the first time, we investigated fitness related traits of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius 8 weeks after short-term (1 h) UV-B radiations (0, 10 and 20 µW cm^-2). Short-term UV-B radiations had significant negative effects on survival, food consumption, test diameter, test height, test height:test diameter, gonad weight and crude protein of gonads of S. intermedius, despite of the absence of UV-B radiation for 8 weeks. Survival, food consumption and crude protein of gonads were significantly lowest in S. intermedius exposed to UV-B radiation at 20 µW cm^-2, highlighting that 20 µW cm^-2 is a dangerous UV-B radiation intensity for the fitness of sea urchins (at least S. intermedius). Gonads were significantly more sensitive to UV-B radiation than the gut. The present study increases our understanding of carryover effects of UV-B radiations on sea urchins and provides valuable information into marine environmental safety.

Overview of the molecular defense systems used by sea urchin embryos to cope with UV radiation

The sea urchin embryo is a well-recognized developmental biology model and its use in toxicological studies has been widely appreciated. Many studies have focused on the evaluation of the effects of chemical stressors and their mixture in marine ecosystems using sea urchin embryos. These are well equipped with defense genes used to cope with chemical stressors. Recently, ultraviolet radiation (UVR), particularly UVB (280-315 nm), received more attention as a physical stressor. Mainly in the Polar Regions, but also at temperate latitudes, the penetration of UVB into the oceans increases as a consequence of the reduction of the Earth's ozone layer. In general, UVR induces oxidative stress in marine organisms affecting molecular targets such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. Depending on the UVR dose, developing sea urchin embryos show morphological perturbations affecting mainly the skeleton formation and patterning. Nevertheless, embryos are able to protect themselves against excessive UVR, using mechanisms acting at different levels: transcriptional, translational and post-translational. In this review, we recommend the sea urchin embryo as a suitable model for testing physical stressors such as UVR and summarize the mechanisms adopted to deal with UVR. Moreover, we review UV-induced apoptotic events and the combined effects of UVR and other stressors.

The relationship between UV-irradiance, photoprotective compounds and DNA damage in two intertidal invertebrates with contrasting mobility characteristics

The photoprotective role of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA) against the generation of DNA cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) was studied in the sessile intertidal anemone Actinia tenebrosa and the mobile intertidal gastropod Diloma aethiops through 27months at a mid-latitude New Zealand location. MAA were sequestered by A. tenebrosa and D. aethiops from their diet, although maximum total MAA levels in both species were not correlated with seasonal variation in maximum ambient UV-B levels recorded at the collection site. Temporal changes in total MAA in A. tenebrosa showed a six months lag-time in their concentration regarding to the environmental UV-B levels. This lag period corresponded to an observed increase in CPD production from spring to summer; suggesting that MAA do not completely protect the anemone from UV-B during summer. For D. aethiops, total MAA concentrations did not change significantly during the study, although qualitative changes in MAA were apparent. A month lag-time in MAA concentration in D. aethiops and possibly the physical barrier that the shell confers to the animal, can explain reduced CPD levels in comparative terms with A. tenebrosa. Although MAA are used by invertebrates for photoprotection, contrasting mobility characteristics and the presence of physical adaptations can confer them important protection levels during temporal changes of UV-B at mid-latitude places of the Southern Hemisphere.

Time- and dose-dependent gene expression in sea urchin embryos exposed to UVB

The increase of UVB radiation reaching marine environment has harmful effects on living organisms. Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryos living in shallow water are exposed to radiations, providing a good model for studying the molecular mechanisms activated upon UV stress. Here, we report the modulated time- and dose-dependent expression of six genes, known to be involved in stress response, in embryos exposed at cleavage to 400 and 800 J/m(2) UVB, and collected at early (morula) and later (gastrula) stages. We analyzed their mRNA levels by QPCR and found that Pl-14-3-3 showed a dose-dependent induction, both early and late in development; Pl-c-jun was up-regulated proportionally to the UVB dose at early stages and only at 800 J/m(2) UVB at later stages; Pl-XPB-ERCC3, Pl-MT and Pl-NF-kB were highly up-regulated later in development at the high dose, with the exception of Pl-XPB-ERCC3 whose mRNA levels were high also at the lower dose; Pl-FOXO expression was not affected by UVB radiation. We believe that the identification of UVB-responsive genes in irradiated sea urchin embryos, reported for the first time in this study, will be helpful for the understanding of the involved molecular pathways. The correlation between the impaired morphogenesis, affecting endo-mesoderm differentiation, and gene modulations described herewith is also discussed.

ATP-binding cassette transporters protect sea urchin gametes and embryonic cells against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light

Embryos of marine organisms whose development occurs externally are particularly sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light (bands A and B, respectively, UVA and UVB). ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are the first line of cellular defense against chemical or physical stress. The present work investigated the involvement of ABC transporters on UVA or UVB effects on eggs, spermatozoa, and embryonic cells of the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter. Gametes or embryos were exposed to UVA (3.6-14.4 kJ m(-2)) or UVB (0.112-14.4 kJ m(-2)), and embryonic development was monitored by optical microscopy at different developmental stages in the presence or absence of the ABC-transporter blockers reversin205 (ABCB1 blocker) or MK571 (ABCC1 blocker). E. lucunter eggs, spermatozoa and embryos were resistant to UVA exposure. Resistance to the harmful effects of UVB was strongly associated to ABC transporter activity (embryos > eggs > spermatozoa). ABCB1 or ABCC1 blockage promoted the injurious effects of UVA on spermatozoa. ABCC1 transporter blockage increased UVB-dependent damage in eggs while ABCB1 transporter inhibition increased harmful effects of UVB in embryonic cells. ABC-transporter activity was not, however, affected by UVB exposure. In conclusion, the present study is the first report on the protective role of ABC transporters against harmful effects of UVA and UVB on sea urchin eggs and embryonic cells.

Proteomic responses of sea urchin embryos to stressful ultraviolet radiation

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 290-400 nm) penetrates into seawater and can harm shallow-dwelling and planktonic marine organisms. Studies dating back to the 1930s revealed that echinoids, especially sea urchin embryos, are powerful models for deciphering the effects of UVR on embryonic development and how embryos defend themselves against UV-induced damage. In addition to providing a large number of synchronously developing embryos amenable to cellular, biochemical, molecular, and single-cell analyses, the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, also offers an annotated genome. Together, these aspects allow for the in-depth study of molecular and biochemical signatures of UVR stress. Here, we review the effects of UVR on embryonic development, focusing on the early-cleavage stages, and begin to integrate data regarding single-protein responses with comprehensive proteomic assessments. Proteomic studies reveal changes in levels of post-translational modifications to proteins that respond to UVR, and identify proteins that can then be interrogated as putative targets or components of stress-response pathways. These responsive proteins are distributed among systems upon which targeted studies can now begin to be mapped. Post-transcriptional and translational controls may provide early embryos with a rapid, fine-tuned response to stress during early stages, especially during pre-blastula stages that rely primarily on maternally derived defenses rather than on responses through zygotic gene transcription.