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Seesamut T, Yano D, Paitio J, Kin I, Panha S, Oba Y. Occurrence of bioluminescent and nonbioluminescent species in the littoral earthworm genus Pontodrilus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8407. [PMID: 33863974 PMCID: PMC8052329 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87984-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pontodrilus litoralis is a cosmopolitan littoral earthworm known to exhibit bioluminescence. Recently, a congeneric species, Pontodrilus longissimus, from Thailand was described. These species are sympatric, but their burrowing depths on Thai beaches are different. In this study, we examined the in vivo and in vitro bioluminescent properties of P. longissimus and P. litoralis. Mechanical stimulation induced in vivo luminescence in P. litoralis, as reported previously, but not in P. longissimus. In vitro cross-reaction tests between these species revealed the absence of luciferin and luciferase activities in P. longissimus. The coelomic fluid of P. litoralis had strong fluorescence that matched the spectral maximum of its bioluminescence, but the same result was not observed for P. longissimus. These results suggest that P. litoralis has luminescence abilities due to the creation of bioluminescent components (i.e., luciferin, luciferase, and light emitters). The presence of both luminous and nonluminous species in a single genus is likely widespread, but only a few examples have been confirmed. Our findings provide insight into the possible functions of bioluminescence in earthworms, such as avoiding predation by littoral earwigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teerapong Seesamut
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487-8501, Japan
| | - Daichi Yano
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487-8501, Japan
| | - José Paitio
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487-8501, Japan
| | - Ikuhiko Kin
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487-8501, Japan
| | - Somsak Panha
- Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
- Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand
| | - Yuichi Oba
- Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487-8501, Japan.
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Kin I, Jimi N, Oba Y. Bioluminescence properties of Thelepus japonicus (Annelida: Terebelliformia). LUMINESCENCE 2019; 34:602-606. [PMID: 31083817 DOI: 10.1002/bio.3643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Terebelliformia is a benthic group of marine annelid worms. The bioluminescence of several species has been reported in taxonomical and histological literature, but very little information is known about the biochemical aspects of this phenomenon. In this study, we examined the basic properties of the luminescence system using an extract of the Japanese terebelliform worm, Thelepus japonicus. The bioluminescence extract was soluble in water, and emitted blue-green light at λmax 508 nm following the addition of divalent cations. This triggering action was highly specific to Fe2+ and addition of ATP, H2 O2 or coelenterazine did not enhance activity. The bioluminescence was inactivated by heat treatment and organic solvents, indicating the involvement of a protein component. These results suggested that Thelepus worm produces light using a novel system that differs from that in other known luminescent annelids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikuhiko Kin
- Department of Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
| | - Naoto Jimi
- Department of Natural History Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Oba
- Department of Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
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Gouveneaux A, Gielen MC, Mallefet J. Behavioural responses of the yellow emitting annelidTomopteris helgolandicato photic stimuli. LUMINESCENCE 2018; 33:511-520. [DOI: 10.1002/bio.3440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anaïd Gouveneaux
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth Life Institute; Université catholique de Louvain; Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium
| | - Marie-Charlotte Gielen
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth Life Institute; Université catholique de Louvain; Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium
| | - Jérôme Mallefet
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth Life Institute; Université catholique de Louvain; Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium
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Verdes A, Holford M. Beach to Bench to Bedside: Marine Invertebrate Biochemical Adaptations and Their Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine. Results Probl Cell Differ 2018; 65:359-376. [PMID: 30083928 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-92486-1_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The ocean covers more than 70% of the surface of the planet and harbors very diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical coral reefs to the deepest ocean trenches, with some of the most extreme conditions of pressure, temperature, and light. Organisms living in these environments have been subjected to strong selective pressures through millions of years of evolution, resulting in a plethora of remarkable adaptations that serve a variety of vital functions. Some of these adaptations, including venomous secretions and light-emitting compounds or ink, represent biochemical innovations in which marine invertebrates have developed novel and unique bioactive compounds with enormous potential for basic and applied research. Marine biotechnology, defined as the application of science and technology to marine organisms for the production of knowledge, goods, and services, can harness the enormous possibilities of these unique bioactive compounds acting as a bridge between biological knowledge and applications. This chapter highlights some of the most exceptional biochemical adaptions found specifically in marine invertebrates and describes the biotechnological and biomedical applications derived from them to improve the quality of human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Verdes
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología (Zoología), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College Belfer Research Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Mandë Holford
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College Belfer Research Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA.
- The Graduate Center, Program in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Coutinho MCL, Teixeira VL, Santos CSG. A Review of “Polychaeta” Chemicals and their Possible Ecological Role. J Chem Ecol 2017; 44:72-94. [DOI: 10.1007/s10886-017-0915-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Sharifian S, Homaei A, Hemmati R, Khajeh K. Light emission miracle in the sea and preeminent applications of bioluminescence in recent new biotechnology. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2017; 172:115-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Verdes A, Gruber DF. Glowing Worms: Biological, Chemical, and Functional Diversity of Bioluminescent Annelids. Integr Comp Biol 2017; 57:18-32. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icx017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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Gouveneaux A, Flood PR, Erichsen ES, Olsson C, Lindström J, Mallefet J. Morphology and fluorescence of the parapodial light glands in Tomopteris helgolandica and allies (Phyllodocida: Tomopteridae). ZOOL ANZ 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Gouveneaux A, Flood PR, Mallefet J. Unexpected diversity of bioluminescence in planktonic worms. LUMINESCENCE 2016; 32:394-400. [PMID: 27545998 DOI: 10.1002/bio.3192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of pelagic bioluminescent organisms emit a blue light with emission maxima (λmax ) ranging from 450 to 490 nm. Among the known outliers, the tomopterids (Annelida: Polychaeta) are usually described as yellow-emitters (λmax = 565-570 nm) for which bioluminescence functions as a specific recognition signal. Here, we report the first data regarding the colours emitted by four different tomopterid species, Tomopteris pacifica, T. carpenteri, T. septentrionalis and T. planktonis. Surprisingly, T. planktonis is a blue-emitter (λmax = 450 nm). Our pharmacological results on T. planktonis support cholinergic control, as recently demonstrated in the yellow-emitter, T. helgolandica. Moreover, as revealed by epifluorescence microscopy, the light seems to be produced in both species from the same yellow-pigmented parapodial glands. Despite these similarities, tomopterids express an unexpected diversity of bioluminescent colour patterns. This leads us to reassess the ecological value of bioluminescence within this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gouveneaux
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth and Life Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | - J Mallefet
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Earth and Life Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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