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Foster B, Hugosson F, Scucchia F, Enjolras C, Babonis LS, Hoaen W, Martindale MQ. A novel in vivo system to study coral biomineralization in the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. iScience 2024; 27:109131. [PMID: 38384856 PMCID: PMC10879693 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral conservation requires a mechanistic understanding of how environmental stresses disrupt biomineralization, but progress has been slow, primarily because corals are not easily amenable to laboratory research. Here, we highlight how the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, can serve as a model to interrogate the cellular mechanisms of coral biomineralization. We have developed transgenic constructs using biomineralizing genes that can be injected into Nematostella zygotes and designed such that translated proteins may be purified for physicochemical characterization. Using fluorescent tags, we confirm the ectopic expression of the coral biomineralizing protein, SpCARP1, in Nematostella. We demonstrate via calcein staining that SpCARP1 concentrates calcium ions in Nematostella, likely initiating the formation of mineral precursors, consistent with its suspected role in corals. These results lay a fundamental groundwork for establishing Nematostella as an in vivo system to explore the evolutionary and cellular mechanisms of coral biomineralization, improve coral conservation efforts, and even develop novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent Foster
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32080, USA
| | - Fredrik Hugosson
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32080, USA
| | - Federica Scucchia
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32080, USA
| | - Camille Enjolras
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32080, USA
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS, Montpellier 34090, France
| | - Leslie S. Babonis
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32080, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - William Hoaen
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Mark Q. Martindale
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32080, USA
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2
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Jacobovitz MR, Hambleton EA, Guse A. Unlocking the Complex Cell Biology of Coral-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis: A Model Systems Approach. Annu Rev Genet 2023; 57:411-434. [PMID: 37722685 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-072320-125436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic interactions occur in all domains of life, providing organisms with resources to adapt to new habitats. A prime example is the endosymbiosis between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Eukaryotic dinoflagellate symbionts reside inside coral cells and transfer essential nutrients to their hosts, driving the productivity of the most biodiverse marine ecosystem. Recent advances in molecular and genomic characterization have revealed symbiosis-specific genes and mechanisms shared among symbiotic cnidarians. In this review, we focus on the cellular and molecular processes that underpin the interaction between symbiont and host. We discuss symbiont acquisition via phagocytosis, modulation of host innate immunity, symbiont integration into host cell metabolism, and nutrient exchange as a fundamental aspect of stable symbiotic associations. We emphasize the importance of using model systems to dissect the cellular complexity of endosymbiosis, which ultimately serves as the basis for understanding its ecology and capacity to adapt in the face of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie R Jacobovitz
- Cell Biology and Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elizabeth A Hambleton
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria;
| | - Annika Guse
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany;
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3
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Yoshioka Y, Chiu YL, Uchida T, Yamashita H, Suzuki G, Shinzato C. Genes possibly related to symbiosis in early life stages of Acropora tenuis inoculated with Symbiodinium microadriaticum. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1027. [PMID: 37853100 PMCID: PMC10584924 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05350-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the ecological importance of mutualism between reef-building corals and symbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae), various transcriptomic studies on coral-algal symbiosis have been performed; however, molecular mechanisms, especially genes essential to initiate and maintain these symbioses remain unknown. We investigated transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis to inoculation with the native algal symbiont, Symbiodinium microadriaticum, during early life stages, and identified possible symbiosis-related genes. Genes involved in immune regulation, protection against oxidative stress, and metabolic interactions between partners are particularly important for symbiosis during Acropora early life stages. In addition, molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that some possible symbiosis-related genes originated by gene duplication in the Acropora lineage, suggesting that gene duplication may have been the driving force to establish stable mutualism in Acropora, and that symbiotic molecular mechanisms may vary among coral lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Yoshioka
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI), The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan.
| | - Yi-Ling Chiu
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI), The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Taiga Uchida
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI), The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamashita
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Go Suzuki
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI), The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
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4
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Single-cell atavism reveals an ancient mechanism of cell type diversification in a sea anemone. Nat Commun 2023; 14:885. [PMID: 36797294 PMCID: PMC9935875 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cnidocytes are the explosive stinging cells unique to cnidarians (corals, jellyfish, etc). Specialized for prey capture and defense, cnidocytes comprise a group of over 30 morphologically and functionally distinct cell types. These unusual cells are iconic examples of biological novelty but the developmental mechanisms driving diversity of the stinging apparatus are poorly characterized, making it challenging to understand the evolutionary history of stinging cells. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, we show that a single transcription factor (NvSox2) acts as a binary switch between two alternative stinging cell fates. Knockout of NvSox2 causes a transformation of piercing cells into ensnaring cells, which are common in other species of sea anemone but appear to have been silenced in N. vectensis. These results reveal an unusual case of single-cell atavism and expand our understanding of the diversification of cell type identity.
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5
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Symbiosis with Dinoflagellates Alters Cnidarian Cell-Cycle Gene Expression. Cell Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/3330160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, hosts show altered expression of genes involved in growth and proliferation when in the symbiotic state, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the host’s altered growth rate. Using tissue-specific transcriptomics, we determined how symbiosis affects expression of cell cycle-associated genes, in the model symbiotic cnidarian Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia). The presence of symbionts within the gastrodermis elicited cell-cycle arrest in the G1 phase in a larger proportion of host cells compared with the aposymbiotic gastrodermis. The symbiotic gastrodermis also showed a reduction in the amount of cells synthesizing their DNA and progressing through mitosis when compared with the aposymbiotic gastrodermis. Host apoptotic inhibitors (Mdm2) were elevated, while host apoptotic sensitizers (c-Myc) were depressed, in the symbiotic gastrodermis when compared with the aposymbiotic gastrodermis and epidermis of symbiotic anemones, respectively. This indicates that the presence of symbionts negatively regulates host apoptosis, possibly contributing to their persistence within the host. Transcripts (ATM/ATR) associated with DNA damage were also downregulated in symbiotic gastrodermal tissues. In epidermal cells, a single gene (Mob1) required for mitotic completion was upregulated in symbiotic compared with aposymbiotic anemones, suggesting that the presence of symbionts in the gastrodermis stimulates host cell division in the epidermis. To further corroborate this hypothesis, we performed microscopic analysis using an S-phase indicator (EdU), allowing us to evaluate cell cycling in host cells. Our results confirmed that there were significantly more proliferating host cells in both the gastrodermis and epidermis in the symbiotic state compared with the aposymbiotic state. Furthermore, when comparing between tissue layers in the presence of symbionts, the epidermis had significantly more proliferating host cells than the symbiont-containing gastrodermis. These results contribute to our understanding of the influence of symbionts on the mechanisms of cnidarian cell proliferation and mechanisms associated with symbiont maintenance.
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6
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Thies AB, Quijada-Rodriguez AR, Zhouyao H, Weihrauch D, Tresguerres M. A Rhesus channel in the coral symbiosome membrane suggests a novel mechanism to regulate NH 3 and CO 2 delivery to algal symbionts. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm0303. [PMID: 35275725 PMCID: PMC8916725 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Reef-building corals maintain an intracellular photosymbiotic association with dinoflagellate algae. As the algae are hosted inside the symbiosome, all metabolic exchanges must take place across the symbiosome membrane. Using functional studies in Xenopus oocytes, immunolocalization, and confocal Airyscan microscopy, we established that Acropora yongei Rh (ayRhp1) facilitates transmembrane NH3 and CO2 diffusion and that it is present in the symbiosome membrane. Furthermore, ayRhp1 abundance in the symbiosome membrane was highest around midday and lowest around midnight. We conclude that ayRhp1 mediates a symbiosomal NH4+-trapping mechanism that promotes nitrogen delivery to algae during the day-necessary to sustain photosynthesis-and restricts nitrogen delivery at night-to keep algae under nitrogen limitation. The role of ayRhp1-facilitated CO2 diffusion is less clear, but it may have implications for metabolic dysregulation between symbiotic partners and bleaching. This previously unknown mechanism expands our understanding of symbioses at the immediate animal-microbe interface, the symbiosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus B. Thies
- Marine Biology research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Corresponding author. (A.B.T.); (M.T.)
| | | | - Haonan Zhouyao
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Dirk Weihrauch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Martin Tresguerres
- Marine Biology research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Corresponding author. (A.B.T.); (M.T.)
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7
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Cotinat P, Fricano C, Toullec G, Röttinger E, Barnay-Verdier S, Furla P. Intrinsically High Capacity of Animal Cells From a Symbiotic Cnidarian to Deal With Pro-Oxidative Conditions. Front Physiol 2022; 13:819111. [PMID: 35222085 PMCID: PMC8867213 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.819111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis is a mutualistic intracellular association based on the photosynthetic activity of the endosymbiont. This relationship involves significant constraints and requires co-evolution processes, such as an extensive capacity of the holobiont to counteract pro-oxidative conditions induced by hyperoxia generated during photosynthesis. In this study, we analyzed the capacity of Anemonia viridis cells to deal with pro-oxidative conditions by in vivo and in vitro approaches. Whole specimens and animal primary cell cultures were submitted to 200 and 500 μM of H2O2 during 7 days. Then, we monitored global health parameters (symbiotic state, viability, and cell growth) and stress biomarkers (global antioxidant capacity, oxidative protein damages, and protein ubiquitination). In animal primary cell cultures, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also evaluated under H2O2 treatments. At the whole organism scale, both H2O2 concentrations didn’t affect the survival and animal tissues exhibited a high resistance to H2O2 treatments. Moreover, no bleaching has been observed, even at high H2O2 concentration and after long exposure (7 days). Although, the community has suggested the role of ROS as the cause of bleaching, our results indicating the absence of bleaching under high H2O2 concentration may exculpate this specific ROS from being involved in the molecular processes inducing bleaching. However, counterintuitively, the symbiont compartment appeared sensitive to an H2O2 burst as it displayed oxidative protein damages, despite an enhancement of antioxidant capacity. The in vitro assays allowed highlighting an intrinsic high capacity of isolated animal cells to deal with pro-oxidative conditions, although we observed differences on tolerance between H2O2 treatments. The 200 μM H2O2 concentration appeared to correspond to the tolerance threshold of animal cells. Indeed, no disequilibrium on redox state was observed and only a cell growth decrease was measured. Contrarily, the 500 μM H2O2 concentration induced a stress state, characterized by a cell viability decrease from 1 day and a drastic cell growth arrest after 7 days leading to an uncomplete recovery after treatment. In conclusion, this study highlights the overall high capacity of cnidarian cells to cope with H2O2 and opens new perspective to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in this peculiar resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Cotinat
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche – Ressources Marines (MARRES), Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Clara Fricano
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche – Ressources Marines (MARRES), Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Gaëlle Toullec
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Eric Röttinger
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche – Ressources Marines (MARRES), Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Stéphanie Barnay-Verdier
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche – Ressources Marines (MARRES), Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- UFR 927, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Paola Furla
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche – Ressources Marines (MARRES), Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
- *Correspondence: Paola Furla,
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8
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Morgan MB, Ross J, Ellwanger J, Phrommala RM, Youngblood H, Qualley D, Williams J. Sea Anemones Responding to Sex Hormones, Oxybenzone, and Benzyl Butyl Phthalate: Transcriptional Profiling and in Silico Modelling Provide Clues to Decipher Endocrine Disruption in Cnidarians. Front Genet 2022; 12:793306. [PMID: 35087572 PMCID: PMC8787064 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.793306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine disruption is suspected in cnidarians, but questions remain how occurs. Steroid sex hormones are detected in corals and sea anemones even though these animals do not have estrogen receptors and their repertoire of steroidogenic enzymes appears to be incomplete. Pathways associated with sex hormone biosynthesis and sterol signaling are an understudied area in cnidarian biology. The objective of this study was to identify a suite of genes that can be linked to exposure of endocrine disruptors. Exaiptasia diaphana were exposed to nominal 20ppb concentrations of estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), cholesterol, oxybenzone (BP-3), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) for 4 h. Eleven genes of interest (GOIs) were chosen from a previously generated EST library. The GOIs are 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases type 14 (17β HSD14) and type 12 (17β HSD12), Niemann-Pick C type 2 (NPC2), Equistatin (EI), Complement component C3 (C3), Cathepsin L (CTSL), Patched domain-containing protein 3 (PTCH3), Smoothened (SMO), Desert Hedgehog (DHH), Zinc finger protein GLI2 (GLI2), and Vitellogenin (VTG). These GOIs were selected because of functional associations with steroid hormone biosynthesis; cholesterol binding/transport; immunity; phagocytosis; or Hedgehog signaling. Quantitative Real-Time PCR quantified expression of GOIs. In silico modelling utilized protein structures from Protein Data Bank as well as creating protein structures with SWISS-MODEL. Results show transcription of steroidogenic enzymes, and cholesterol binding/transport proteins have similar transcription profiles for E2, T, and cholesterol treatments, but different profiles when BP-3 or BBP is present. C3 expression can differentiate between exposures to BP-3 versus BBP as well as exposure to cholesterol versus sex hormones. In silico modelling revealed all ligands (E2, T, cholesterol, BBP, and BP-3) have favorable binding affinities with 17β HSD14, 17β HSD12, NPC2, SMO, and PTCH proteins. VTG expression was down-regulated in the sterol treatments but up-regulated in BP-3 and BBP treatments. In summary, these eleven GOIs collectively generate unique transcriptional profiles capable of discriminating between the five chemical exposures used in this investigation. This suite of GOIs are candidate biomarkers for detecting transcriptional changes in steroidogenesis, gametogenesis, sterol transport, and Hedgehog signaling. Detection of disruptions in these pathways offers new insight into endocrine disruption in cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Morgan
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - James Ross
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph Ellwanger
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | | | - Hannah Youngblood
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States.,Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Dominic Qualley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Jacob Williams
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
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9
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Guo Q, Whipps CM, Zhai Y, Li D, Gu Z. Quantitative Insights into the Contribution of Nematocysts to the Adaptive Success of Cnidarians Based on Proteomic Analysis. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:91. [PMID: 35053089 PMCID: PMC8773148 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nematocysts are secretory organelles in cnidarians that play important roles in predation, defense, locomotion, and host invasion. However, the extent to which nematocysts contribute to adaptation and the mechanisms underlying nematocyst evolution are unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the nematocyst in cnidarian evolution based on eight nematocyst proteomes and 110 cnidarian transcriptomes/genomes. We detected extensive species-specific adaptive mutations in nematocyst proteins (NEMs) and evidence for decentralized evolution, in which most evolutionary events involved non-core NEMs, reflecting the rapid diversification of NEMs in cnidarians. Moreover, there was a 33-55 million year macroevolutionary lag between nematocyst evolution and the main phases of cnidarian diversification, suggesting that the nematocyst can act as a driving force in evolution. Quantitative analysis revealed an excess of adaptive changes in NEMs and enrichment for positively selected conserved NEMs. Together, these findings suggest that nematocysts may be key to the adaptive success of cnidarians and provide a reference for quantitative analyses of the roles of phenotypic novelties in adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiang Guo
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Christopher M Whipps
- SUNY-ESF, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, 246 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Yanhua Zhai
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zemao Gu
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Aquatic Animal Diseases Control and Prevention, Wuhan 430070, China
- Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
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10
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Dimond JL, Nguyen N, Roberts SB. DNA METHYLATION PROFILING OF A CNIDARIAN-ALGAL SYMBIOSIS USING NANOPORE SEQUENCING. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6275752. [PMID: 33989381 PMCID: PMC8496274 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Symbiosis with protists is common among cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones and is associated with homeostatic and phenotypic changes in the host that could have epigenetic underpinnings, such as methylation of CpG dinucleotides. We leveraged the sensitivity to base modifications of nanopore sequencing to probe the effect of symbiosis with the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina on methylation in the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. We first validated the approach by comparison of nanopore-derived methylation levels with CpG depletion analysis of a published transcriptome, finding that high methylation levels are associated with CpG depletion as expected. Next, using reads generated exclusively from aposymbiotic anemones, a largely complete draft genome comprising 243 Mb was assembled. Reads from aposymbiotic and symbiotic sea anemones were then mapped to this genome and assessed for methylation using the program Nanopolish, which detects signal disruptions from base modifications as they pass through the nanopore. Based on assessment of 452,841 CpGs for which there was adequate read coverage (approximately 8% of the CpGs in the genome), symbiosis with E. marina was, surprisingly, associated with only subtle changes in the host methylome. However, we did identify one extended genomic region with consistently higher methylation among symbiotic individuals. The region was associated with a DNA polymerase zeta that is noted for its role in translesion synthesis, which opens interesting questions about the biology of this symbiosis. Our study highlights the power and relative simplicity of nanopore sequencing for studies of nucleic acid base modifications in non-model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Dimond
- University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, 1122 NE Boat St., Seattle, WA 98195 USA.,Western Washington University, Shannon Point Marine Center, 1900 Shannon Point Rd., Anacortes, WA 98221 USA
| | - Nhung Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14456 USA.,South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249 USA
| | - Steven B Roberts
- University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, 1122 NE Boat St., Seattle, WA 98195 USA
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11
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Hall C, Camilli S, Dwaah H, Kornegay B, Lacy C, Hill MS, Hill AL. Freshwater sponge hosts and their green algae symbionts: a tractable model to understand intracellular symbiosis. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10654. [PMID: 33614268 PMCID: PMC7882143 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In many freshwater habitats, green algae form intracellular symbioses with a variety of heterotrophic host taxa including several species of freshwater sponge. These sponges perform important ecological roles in their habitats, and the poriferan:green algae partnerships offers unique opportunities to study the evolutionary origins and ecological persistence of endosymbioses. We examined the association between Ephydatia muelleri and its chlorophyte partner to identify features of host cellular and genetic responses to the presence of intracellular algal partners. Chlorella-like green algal symbionts were isolated from field-collected adult E. muelleri tissue harboring algae. The sponge-derived algae were successfully cultured and subsequently used to reinfect aposymbiotic E. muelleri tissue. We used confocal microscopy to follow the fate of the sponge-derived algae after inoculating algae-free E. muelleri grown from gemmules to show temporal patterns of symbiont location within host tissue. We also infected aposymbiotic E. muelleri with sponge-derived algae, and performed RNASeq to study differential expression patterns in the host relative to symbiotic states. We compare and contrast our findings with work in other systems (e.g., endosymbiotic Hydra) to explore possible conserved evolutionary pathways that may lead to stable mutualistic endosymbioses. Our work demonstrates that freshwater sponges offer many tractable qualities to study features of intracellular occupancy and thus meet criteria desired for a model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Hall
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Sara Camilli
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Henry Dwaah
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Kornegay
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Christie Lacy
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America
| | - Malcolm S Hill
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America.,Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, United States of America
| | - April L Hill
- Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States of America.,Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, United States of America
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12
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Cleves PA, Krediet CJ, Lehnert EM, Onishi M, Pringle JR. Insights into coral bleaching under heat stress from analysis of gene expression in a sea anemone model system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:28906-28917. [PMID: 33168733 PMCID: PMC7682557 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015737117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of endosymbiotic algae ("bleaching") under heat stress has become a major problem for reef-building corals worldwide. To identify genes that might be involved in triggering or executing bleaching, or in protecting corals from it, we used RNAseq to analyze gene-expression changes during heat stress in a coral relative, the sea anemone Aiptasia. We identified >500 genes that showed rapid and extensive up-regulation upon temperature increase. These genes fell into two clusters. In both clusters, most genes showed similar expression patterns in symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones, suggesting that this early stress response is largely independent of the symbiosis. Cluster I was highly enriched for genes involved in innate immunity and apoptosis, and most transcript levels returned to baseline many hours before bleaching was first detected, raising doubts about their possible roles in this process. Cluster II was highly enriched for genes involved in protein folding, and most transcript levels returned more slowly to baseline, so that roles in either promoting or preventing bleaching seem plausible. Many of the genes in clusters I and II appear to be targets of the transcription factors NFκB and HSF1, respectively. We also examined the behavior of 337 genes whose much higher levels of expression in symbiotic than aposymbiotic anemones in the absence of stress suggest that they are important for the symbiosis. Unexpectedly, in many cases, these expression levels declined precipitously long before bleaching itself was evident, suggesting that loss of expression of symbiosis-supporting genes may be involved in triggering bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip A Cleves
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Cory J Krediet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Marine Science, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
| | - Erik M Lehnert
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Masayuki Onishi
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - John R Pringle
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305;
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13
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van Oppen MJH, Medina M. Coral evolutionary responses to microbial symbioses. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190591. [PMID: 32772672 PMCID: PMC7435167 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This review explores how microbial symbioses may have influenced and continue to influence the evolution of reef-building corals (Cnidaria; Scleractinia). The coral holobiont comprises a diverse microbiome including dinoflagellate algae (Dinophyceae; Symbiodiniaceae), bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses, but here we focus on the Symbiodiniaceae as knowledge of the impact of other microbial symbionts on coral evolution is scant. Symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae has extended the coral's metabolic capacity through metabolic handoffs and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and has contributed to the ecological success of these iconic organisms. It necessitated the prior existence or the evolution of a series of adaptations of the host to attract and select the right symbionts, to provide them with a suitable environment and to remove disfunctional symbionts. Signatures of microbial symbiosis in the coral genome include HGT from Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria, gene family expansions, and a broad repertoire of oxidative stress response and innate immunity genes. Symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae has permitted corals to occupy oligotrophic waters as the algae provide most corals with the majority of their nutrition. However, the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis is sensitive to climate warming, which disrupts this intimate relationship, causing coral bleaching, mortality and a worldwide decline of coral reefs. This article is part of the theme issue 'The role of the microbiome in host evolution'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010 Victoria, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville MC, 4810 Queensland, Australia
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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14
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Parisi MG, Parrinello D, Stabili L, Cammarata M. Cnidarian Immunity and the Repertoire of Defense Mechanisms in Anthozoans. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E283. [PMID: 32932829 PMCID: PMC7563517 DOI: 10.3390/biology9090283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Anthozoa is the most specious class of the phylum Cnidaria that is phylogenetically basal within the Metazoa. It is an interesting group for studying the evolution of mutualisms and immunity, for despite their morphological simplicity, Anthozoans are unexpectedly immunologically complex, with large genomes and gene families similar to those of the Bilateria. Evidence indicates that the Anthozoan innate immune system is not only involved in the disruption of harmful microorganisms, but is also crucial in structuring tissue-associated microbial communities that are essential components of the cnidarian holobiont and useful to the animal's health for several functions including metabolism, immune defense, development, and behavior. Here, we report on the current state of the art of Anthozoan immunity. Like other invertebrates, Anthozoans possess immune mechanisms based on self/non-self-recognition. Although lacking adaptive immunity, they use a diverse repertoire of immune receptor signaling pathways (PRRs) to recognize a broad array of conserved microorganism-associated molecular patterns (MAMP). The intracellular signaling cascades lead to gene transcription up to endpoints of release of molecules that kill the pathogens, defend the self by maintaining homeostasis, and modulate the wound repair process. The cells play a fundamental role in immunity, as they display phagocytic activities and secrete mucus, which acts as a physicochemical barrier preventing or slowing down the proliferation of potential invaders. Finally, we describe the current state of knowledge of some immune effectors in Anthozoan species, including the potential role of toxins and the inflammatory response in the Mediterranean Anthozoan Anemonia viridis following injection of various foreign particles differing in type and dimensions, including pathogenetic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Parisi
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Daniela Parrinello
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Loredana Stabili
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Matteo Cammarata
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
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15
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Meron D, Maor-Landaw K, Eyal G, Elifantz H, Banin E, Loya Y, Levy O. The Complexity of the Holobiont in the Red Sea Coral Euphyllia paradivisa under Heat Stress. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E372. [PMID: 32155796 PMCID: PMC7143197 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The recognition of the microbiota complexity and their role in the evolution of their host is leading to the popularization of the holobiont concept. However, the coral holobiont (host and its microbiota) is still enigmatic and unclear. Here, we explore the complex relations between different holobiont members of a mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa. We subjected two lines of the coral-with photosymbionts, and without photosymbionts (apo-symbiotic)-to increasing temperatures and to antibiotics. The different symbiotic states were characterized using transcriptomics, microbiology and physiology techniques. The bacterial community's composition is dominated by bacteroidetes, alphaproteobacteria, and gammaproteobacteria, but is dependent upon the symbiont state, colony, temperature treatment, and antibiotic exposure. Overall, the most important parameter determining the response was whether the coral was a symbiont/apo-symbiotic, while the colony and bacterial composition were secondary factors. Enrichment Gene Ontology analysis of coral host's differentially expressed genes demonstrated the cellular differences between symbiotic and apo-symbiotic samples. Our results demonstrate the significance of each component of the holobiont consortium and imply a coherent link between them, which dramatically impacts the molecular and cellular processes of the coral host, which possibly affect its fitness, particularly under environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalit Meron
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (D.M.); (K.M.-L.); (G.E.); (H.E.); (E.B.)
- Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Keren Maor-Landaw
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (D.M.); (K.M.-L.); (G.E.); (H.E.); (E.B.)
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Gal Eyal
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (D.M.); (K.M.-L.); (G.E.); (H.E.); (E.B.)
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Hila Elifantz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (D.M.); (K.M.-L.); (G.E.); (H.E.); (E.B.)
| | - Ehud Banin
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (D.M.); (K.M.-L.); (G.E.); (H.E.); (E.B.)
- The Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Yossi Loya
- Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
| | - Oren Levy
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (D.M.); (K.M.-L.); (G.E.); (H.E.); (E.B.)
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16
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Simona F, Zhang H, Voolstra CR. Evidence for a role of protein phosphorylation in the maintenance of the cnidarian-algal symbiosis. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:5373-5386. [PMID: 31693769 PMCID: PMC6972648 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and photosynthetic dinoflagellate algae provides the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. This essential interaction is globally threatened by anthropogenic disturbance. As such, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning the cnidarian–algal association. Here we investigated phosphorylation‐mediated protein signalling as a mechanism of regulation of the cnidarian–algal interaction, and we report on the generation of the first phosphoproteome for the coral model system Aiptasia. Mass spectrometry‐based phosphoproteomics using data‐independent acquisition allowed consistent quantification of over 3,000 phosphopeptides totalling more than 1,600 phosphoproteins across aposymbiotic (symbiont‐free) and symbiotic anemones. Comparison of the symbiotic states showed distinct phosphoproteomic profiles attributable to the differential phosphorylation of 539 proteins that cover a broad range of functions, from receptors to structural and signal transduction proteins. A subsequent pathway enrichment analysis identified the processes of “protein digestion and absorption,” “carbohydrate metabolism,” and “protein folding, sorting and degradation,” and highlighted differential phosphorylation of the “phospholipase D signalling pathway” and “protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum.” Targeted phosphorylation of the phospholipase D signalling pathway suggests control of glutamate vesicle trafficking across symbiotic compartments, and phosphorylation of the endoplasmic reticulum machinery suggests recycling of symbiosome‐associated proteins. Our study shows for the first time that changes in the phosphorylation status of proteins between aposymbiotic and symbiotic Aiptasia anemones may play a role in the regulation of the cnidarian–algal symbiosis. This is the first phosphoproteomic study of a cnidarian–algal symbiotic association as well as the first application of quantification by data‐independent acquisition in the coral field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabia Simona
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Huoming Zhang
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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17
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Ishii Y, Maruyama S, Takahashi H, Aihara Y, Yamaguchi T, Yamaguchi K, Shigenobu S, Kawata M, Ueno N, Minagawa J. Global Shifts in Gene Expression Profiles Accompanied with Environmental Changes in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Endosymbiosis. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:2337-2347. [PMID: 31097480 PMCID: PMC6643889 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.201012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Stable endosymbiotic relationships between cnidarian animals and dinoflagellate algae are vital for sustaining coral reef ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that elevated seawater temperatures can cause the collapse of their endosymbiosis, known as 'bleaching', and result in mass mortality. However, the molecular interplay between temperature responses and symbiotic states still remains unclear. To identify candidate genes relevant to the symbiotic stability, we performed transcriptomic analyses under multiple conditions using the symbiotic and apo-symbiotic (symbiont free) Exaiptasia diaphana, an emerging model sea anemone. Gene expression patterns showed that large parts of differentially expressed genes in response to heat stress were specific to the symbiotic state, suggesting that the host sea anemone could react to environmental changes in a symbiotic state-dependent manner. Comparative analysis of expression profiles under multiple conditions highlighted candidate genes potentially important in the symbiotic state transition under heat-induced bleaching. Many of these genes were functionally associated with carbohydrate and protein metabolisms in lysosomes. Symbiont algal genes differentially expressed in hospite encode proteins related to heat shock response, calcium signaling, organellar protein transport, and sugar metabolism. Our data suggest that heat stress alters gene expression in both the hosts and symbionts. In particular, heat stress may affect the lysosome-mediated degradation and transportation of substrates such as carbohydrates through the symbiosome (phagosome-derived organelle harboring symbiont) membrane, which potentially might attenuate the stability of symbiosis and lead to bleaching-associated symbiotic state transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuu Ishii
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | | | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yusuke Aihara
- Division of Environmental Photobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yamaguchi
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Katsushi Yamaguchi
- Functional Genomics Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- Functional Genomics Facility, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masakado Kawata
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Naoto Ueno
- Division of Morphogenesis, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Jun Minagawa
- Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Division of Environmental Photobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
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18
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Hambleton EA, Jones VAS, Maegele I, Kvaskoff D, Sachsenheimer T, Guse A. Sterol transfer by atypical cholesterol-binding NPC2 proteins in coral-algal symbiosis. eLife 2019; 8:43923. [PMID: 31159921 PMCID: PMC6548501 DOI: 10.7554/elife.43923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef-building corals depend on intracellular dinoflagellate symbionts that provide nutrients. Besides sugars, the transfer of sterols is essential for corals and other sterol-auxotrophic cnidarians. Sterols are important cell components, and variants of the conserved Niemann-Pick Type C2 (NPC2) sterol transporter are vastly up-regulated in symbiotic cnidarians. Types and proportions of transferred sterols and the mechanism of their transfer, however, remain unknown. Using different pairings of symbiont strains with lines of Aiptasia anemones or Acropora corals, we observe both symbiont- and host-driven patterns of sterol transfer, revealing plasticity of sterol use and functional substitution. We propose that sterol transfer is mediated by the symbiosis-specific, non-canonical NPC2 proteins, which gradually accumulate in the symbiosome. Our data suggest that non-canonical NPCs are adapted to the symbiosome environment, including low pH, and play an important role in allowing corals to dominate nutrient-poor shallow tropical seas worldwide. Coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on our planet. Their immense productivity is driven by friendly relationships, or symbioses, between microbes called algae and the corals. Related organisms, such as anemones, also rely on these close associations. The algae use energy from sunlight to make sugars, cholesterol and other molecules that they supply to their host. In exchange, the host’s cells provide homes for the algae inside specialist, acidic structures called symbiosomes. Corals and anemones particularly need cholesterol and other ‘sterol’ molecules from the algae, because they are unable to create these building blocks themselves. In mammals, a protein known as Niemann-Pick Type C2 (NPC2) transports cholesterol out of storage structures into the main body of the cell. Corals and anemones have many different, ‘atypical’ NPC2 proteins: some are produced more during symbiosis, and these are mainly found in symbiosomes. However, it was not known what role these NPC2 proteins play during symbioses. Here, Hambleton et al. studied the symbioses that the anemone Aiptasia and the coral Acropora create with different strains of Symbiodiniaceae algae. The experiments found that the strain of algae dictated the mixture of sterols inside their hosts. The hosts could flexibly use different mixes of sterols and even replace cholesterol with other types of sterols produced by the algae. Atypical NPC2 proteins accumulated over time within the symbiosome and directly bound to cholesterol and various sterols the way other NPC2 proteins normally do. Further experiments suggest that, compared to other NPC2s, atypical NPC2 proteins may be better adapted to the acidic conditions in the symbiosome. Taken together, Hambleton et al. propose that atypical NPC2 proteins may play an important role in allowing corals to thrive in environments poor in nutrients. The first coral reefs emerged over 200 million years ago, when the Earth still only had one continent. Having built-in algae that provide the organisms with nutrients is thought to be the main driver for the formation of coral reefs and the explosion of diversity in coral species. Yet these ancient relationships are now under threat all around the world: environmental stress is causing the algae to be expelled from the corals, leading to the reefs ‘bleaching’ and starving. The more is known about the details of the symbiosis, the more we can understand how corals have evolved, and how we could help them survive the crisis that they are currently facing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ira Maegele
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Kvaskoff
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH), Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timo Sachsenheimer
- Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH), Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Annika Guse
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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19
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Medrano E, Merselis DG, Bellantuono AJ, Rodriguez-Lanetty M. Proteomic Basis of Symbiosis: A Heterologous Partner Fails to Duplicate Homologous Colonization in a Novel Cnidarian- Symbiodiniaceae Mutualism. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1153. [PMID: 31214134 PMCID: PMC6554683 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef corals and sea anemones form symbioses with unicellular symbiotic dinoflagellates. The molecular circumventions that underlie the successful intracellular colonization of hosts by symbionts are still largely unknown. We conducted proteomic analyses to determine molecular differences of Exaiptasia pallida anemones colonized by physiologically different symbiont species, in comparison with symbiont-free (aposymbiotic) anemones. We compared one homologous species, Symbiodinium linucheae, that is natively associated with the clonal Exaiptasia strain (CC7) to another heterologous species, Durusdinium trenchii, a thermally tolerant species that colonizes numerous coral species. This approach allowed the discovery of a core set of host genes that are differentially regulated as a function of symbiosis regardless of symbiont species. The findings revealed that symbiont colonization at higher densities requires circumvention of the host cellular immunological response, enhancement of ammonium regulation, and suppression of phagocytosis after a host cell in colonized. Furthermore, the heterologous symbionts failed to duplicate the same level of homologous colonization within the host, evidenced by substantially lower symbiont densities. This reduced colonization of D. trenchii correlated with its inability to circumvent key host systems including autophagy-suppressing modulators, cytoskeletal alteration, and isomerase activity. The larger capability of host molecular circumvention by homologous symbionts could be the result of a longer evolutionary history of host/symbiont interactions, which translates into a more finely tuned symbiosis. These findings are of great importance within the context of the response of reef corals to climate change since it has been suggested that coral may acclimatize to ocean warming by changing their dominant symbiont species.
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Unique quantitative Symbiodiniaceae signature of coral colonies revealed through spatio-temporal survey in Moorea. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7921. [PMID: 31138834 PMCID: PMC6538640 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the mechanisms of rapid adaptation or acclimatization to environmental changes in corals is through the dynamics of the composition of their associated endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae community. The various species of these dinoflagellates are characterized by different biological properties, some of which can confer stress tolerance to the coral host. Compelling evidence indicates that the corals’ Symbiodiniaceae community can change via shuffling and/or switching but the ecological relevance and the governance of these processes remain elusive. Using a qPCR approach to follow the dynamics of Symbiodiniaceae genera in tagged colonies of three coral species over a 10–18 month period, we detected putative genus-level switching of algal symbionts, with coral species-specific rates of occurrence. However, the dynamics of the corals’ Symbiodiniaceae community composition was not driven by environmental parameters. On the contrary, putative shuffling event were observed in two coral species during anomalous seawater temperatures and nutrient concentrations. Most notably, our results reveal that a suit of permanent Symbiodiniaceae genera is maintained in each colony in a specific range of quantities, giving a unique ‘Symbiodiniaceae signature’ to the host. This individual signature, together with sporadic symbiont switching may account for the intra-specific differences in resistance and resilience observed during environmental anomalies.
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21
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Urbarova I, Forêt S, Dahl M, Emblem Å, Milazzo M, Hall-Spencer JM, Johansen SD. Ocean acidification at a coastal CO2 vent induces expression of stress-related transcripts and transposable elements in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210358. [PMID: 31067218 PMCID: PMC6505742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocean acidification threatens to disrupt interactions between organisms throughout marine ecosystems. The diversity of reef-building organisms decreases as seawater CO2 increases along natural gradients, yet soft-bodied animals, such as sea anemones, are often resilient. We sequenced the polyA-enriched transcriptome of adult sea anemone Anemonia viridis and its dinoflagellate symbiont sampled along a natural CO2 gradient in Italy to assess stress levels in these organisms. We found that about 1.4% of the anemone transcripts, but only ~0.5% of the Symbiodinium sp. transcripts were differentially expressed. Processes enriched at high seawater CO2 were mainly linked to cellular stress, including significant up-regulation of protective cellular functions and deregulation of metabolic pathways. Transposable elements were differentially expressed at high seawater CO2, with an extreme up-regulation (> 100-fold) of the BEL-family of long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Seawater acidified by CO2 generated a significant stress reaction in A. viridis, but no bleaching was observed and Symbiodinium sp. appeared to be less affected. These observed changes indicate the mechanisms by which A. viridis acclimate to survive chronic exposure to ocean acidification conditions. We conclude that many organisms that are common in acidified conditions may nevertheless incur costs due to hypercapnia and/or lowered carbonate saturation states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Urbarova
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- * E-mail: (IU); (SDJ)
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mikael Dahl
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Åse Emblem
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marco Milazzo
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Jason M. Hall-Spencer
- School of Biological and Marine Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda City, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Steinar D. Johansen
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Genomics Research Group, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
- * E-mail: (IU); (SDJ)
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22
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Lin MF, Takahashi S, Forêt S, Davy SK, Miller DJ. Transcriptomic analyses highlight the likely metabolic consequences of colonization of a cnidarian host by native or non-native Symbiodinium species. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.038281. [PMID: 30814067 PMCID: PMC6451341 DOI: 10.1242/bio.038281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef-building corals and some other cnidarians form symbiotic relationships with members of the dinoflagellate family Symbiodinaceae. As Symbiodinaceae is a highly diverse taxon, the physiological interactions between its members and their hosts are assumed to differ between associations. The presence of different symbiont types is known to affect expression levels of specific host genes, but knowledge of the effects on the transcriptome more broadly remains limited. In the present study, transcriptome profiling was conducted on the tropical corallimorpharian, Ricordea yuma, following the establishment of symbiosis with either the ‘homologous’ symbiont Symbiodinium goreaui (also known as Cladocopium goreaui; ITS2 type C1) or ‘heterologous’ symbionts (predominantly S. trenchii, which is also known as Durusdinium trenchii; ITS2 type D1a) isolated from a different corallimorpharian host (Rhodactis indosinensis). Transcriptomic analyses showed that genes encoding host glycogen biosynthesis pathway components are more highly induced during colonization by the homologous symbiont than by the heterologous symbiont. Similar patterns were also observed for several other genes thought to facilitate symbiotic nutrient exchange, including those involved in lipid translocation/storage and metabolite transport. The gene expression results presented here imply that colonization by homologous or heterologous Symbiodinium types may have very different metabolic consequences for the Ricordea host, supporting the notion that even though some cnidarians may be able to form novel symbioses after bleaching, the metabolic performance of these may be compromised. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Colonization by the homologous symbiont, Symbiodinium goreaui, resulted in greater glycogen synthesis and ammonium assimilation capacity in the host than when it was colonized by a heterologous symbiont (S. trenchii).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Fang Lin
- Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Evolutionary Neurobiology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Shunichi Takahashi
- Division of Environmental Photobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - David J Miller
- Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia .,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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23
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Mansfield KM, Gilmore TD. Innate immunity and cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae mutualism. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 90:199-209. [PMID: 30268783 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The phylum Cnidaria (sea anemones, corals, hydra, jellyfish) is one the most distantly related animal phyla to humans, and yet cnidarians harbor many of the same cellular pathways involved in innate immunity in mammals. In addition to its role in pathogen recognition, the innate immune system has a role in managing beneficial microbes and supporting mutualistic microbial symbioses. Some corals and sea anemones undergo mutualistic symbioses with photosynthetic algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae. These symbioses can be disrupted by anthropogenic disturbances of ocean environments, which can have devastating consequences for the health of coral reef ecosystems. Several studies of cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis have implicated proteins in the host immune system as playing a role in both symbiont tolerance and loss of symbiosis (i.e., bleaching). In this review, we critically evaluate current knowledge about the role of host immunity in the regulation of symbiosis in cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas D Gilmore
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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24
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Matthews JL, Oakley CA, Lutz A, Hillyer KE, Roessner U, Grossman AR, Weis VM, Davy SK. Partner switching and metabolic flux in a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20182336. [PMID: 30487315 PMCID: PMC6283946 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolite exchange is fundamental to the viability of the cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis and survival of coral reefs. Coral holobiont tolerance to environmental change might be achieved through changes in Symbiodiniaceae species composition, but differences in the metabolites supplied by different Symbiodiniaceae species could influence holobiont fitness. Using 13C stable-isotope labelling coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we characterized newly fixed carbon fate in the model cnidarian Exaiptasia pallida (Aiptasia) when experimentally colonized with either native Breviolum minutum or non-native Durusdinium trenchii Relative to anemones containing B. minutum, D. trenchii-colonized hosts exhibited a 4.5-fold reduction in 13C-labelled glucose and reduced abundance and diversity of 13C-labelled carbohydrates and lipogenesis precursors, indicating symbiont species-specific modifications to carbohydrate availability and lipid storage. Mapping carbon fate also revealed significant alterations to host molecular signalling pathways. In particular, D. trenchii-colonized hosts exhibited a 40-fold reduction in 13C-labelled scyllo-inositol, a potential interpartner signalling molecule in symbiosis specificity. 13C-labelling also highlighted differential antioxidant- and ammonium-producing pathway activities, suggesting physiological responses to different symbiont species. Such differences in symbiont metabolite contribution and host utilization may limit the proliferation of stress-driven symbioses; this contributes valuable information towards future scenarios that select in favour of less-competent symbionts in response to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Matthews
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Clinton A Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Adrian Lutz
- Metabolomics Australia, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katie E Hillyer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Ute Roessner
- Metabolomics Australia, School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arthur R Grossman
- Department of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Virginia M Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
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25
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Hamada M, Schröder K, Bathia J, Kürn U, Fraune S, Khalturina M, Khalturin K, Shinzato C, Satoh N, Bosch TC. Metabolic co-dependence drives the evolutionarily ancient Hydra-Chlorella symbiosis. eLife 2018; 7:35122. [PMID: 29848439 PMCID: PMC6019070 DOI: 10.7554/elife.35122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many multicellular organisms rely on symbiotic associations for support of metabolic activity, protection, or energy. Understanding the mechanisms involved in controlling such interactions remains a major challenge. In an unbiased approach we identified key players that control the symbiosis between Hydra viridissima and its photosynthetic symbiont Chlorella sp. A99. We discovered significant up-regulation of Hydra genes encoding a phosphate transporter and glutamine synthetase suggesting regulated nutrition supply between host and symbionts. Interestingly, supplementing the medium with glutamine temporarily supports in vitro growth of the otherwise obligate symbiotic Chlorella, indicating loss of autonomy and dependence on the host. Genome sequencing of Chlorella sp. A99 revealed a large number of amino acid transporters and a degenerated nitrate assimilation pathway, presumably as consequence of the adaptation to the host environment. Our observations portray ancient symbiotic interactions as a codependent partnership in which exchange of nutrients appears to be the primary driving force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuko Hamada
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.,Ushimado Marine Institute, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Katja Schröder
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Zoological Institute, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jay Bathia
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Zoological Institute, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kürn
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Zoological Institute, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sebastian Fraune
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Zoological Institute, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Mariia Khalturina
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Konstantin Khalturin
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan.,Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nori Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Thomas Cg Bosch
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.,Zoological Institute, Kiel Life Science, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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26
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Sorek M, Schnytzer Y, Waldman Ben-Asher H, Caspi VC, Chen CS, Miller DJ, Levy O. Setting the pace: host rhythmic behaviour and gene expression patterns in the facultatively symbiotic cnidarian Aiptasia are determined largely by Symbiodinium. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:83. [PMID: 29739445 PMCID: PMC5941691 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0465-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND All organisms employ biological clocks to anticipate physical changes in the environment; however, the integration of biological clocks in symbiotic systems has received limited attention. In corals, the interpretation of rhythmic behaviours is complicated by the daily oscillations in tissue oxygen tension resulting from the photosynthetic and respiratory activities of the associated algal endosymbiont Symbiodinium. In order to better understand the integration of biological clocks in cnidarian hosts of Symbiodinium, daily rhythms of behaviour and gene expression were studied in symbiotic and aposymbiotic morphs of the sea-anemone Aiptasia diaphana. RESULTS The results showed that whereas circatidal (approx. 12-h) cycles of activity and gene expression predominated in aposymbiotic morphs, circadian (approx. 24-h) patterns were the more common in symbiotic morphs, where the expression of a significant number of genes shifted from a 12- to 24-h rhythm. The behavioural experiments on symbiotic A. diaphana displayed diel (24-h) rhythmicity in body and tentacle contraction under the light/dark cycles, whereas aposymbiotic morphs showed approximately 12-h (circatidal) rhythmicity. Reinfection experiments represent an important step in understanding the hierarchy of endogenous clocks in symbiotic associations, where the aposymbiotic Aiptasia morphs returned to a 24-h behavioural rhythm after repopulation with algae. CONCLUSION Whilst some modification of host metabolism is to be expected, the extent to which the presence of the algae modified host endogenous behavioural and transcriptional rhythms implies that it is the symbionts that influence the pace. Our results clearly demonstrate the importance of the endosymbiotic algae in determining the timing and the duration of the extension and contraction of the body and tentacles and temporal gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Sorek
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Yisrael Schnytzer
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Hiba Waldman Ben-Asher
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Vered Chalifa Caspi
- National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Chii-Shiarng Chen
- National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - David J. Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Australia
| | - Oren Levy
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat-Gan, Israel
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27
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How does an animal behave like a plant? Physiological and molecular adaptations of zooxanthellae and their hosts to symbiosis. C R Biol 2018; 341:276-280. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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28
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Ventura P, Toullec G, Fricano C, Chapron L, Meunier V, Röttinger E, Furla P, Barnay-Verdier S. Cnidarian Primary Cell Culture as a Tool to Investigate the Effect of Thermal Stress at Cellular Level. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018; 20:144-154. [PMID: 29313151 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-017-9791-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In the context of global change, symbiotic cnidarians are largely affected by seawater temperature elevation leading to symbiosis breakdown. This process, also called bleaching, is triggered by the dysfunction of the symbiont photosystems causing an oxidative stress and cell death to both symbiont and host cells. In our study, we wanted to elucidate the intrinsic capacity of isolated animal cells to deal with thermal stress in the absence of symbiont. In that aim, we have characterized an animal primary cell culture form regenerating tentacles of the temperate sea anemone Anemonia viridis. We first compared the potential of whole tissue tentacle or separated epidermal or gastrodermal monolayers as tissue sources to settle animal cell cultures. Interestingly, only isolated cells extracted from whole tentacles allowed establishing a viable and proliferative primary cell culture throughout 31 days. The analysis of the expression of tissue-specific and pluripotency markers defined cultivated cells as differentiated cells with gastrodermal origin. The characterization of the animal primary cell culture allowed us to submit the obtained gastrodermal cells to hyperthermal stress (+ 5 and + 8 °C) during 1 and 7 days. Though cell viability was not affected at both hyperthermal stress conditions, cell growth drastically decreased. In addition, only a + 8 °C hyperthermia induced a transient increase of antioxidant defences at 1 day but no ubiquitin or carbonylation protein damages. These results demonstrated an intrinsic resistance of cnidarian gastrodermal cells to hyperthermal stress and then confirmed the role of symbionts in the hyperthermia sensitivity leading to bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ventura
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France
| | - G Toullec
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France
| | - C Fricano
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France
| | - L Chapron
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB, Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls/Mer, France
| | - V Meunier
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France
| | - E Röttinger
- CNRS, INSERM, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging (IRCAN), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - P Furla
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France
| | - S Barnay-Verdier
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Antilles, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (EPS-IBPS), Paris, France.
- UMR 7138 "Evolution Paris Seine", Symbiose Marine Team, Paris, France.
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29
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30
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Zhou Z, Yu X, Tang J, Wu Y, Wang L, Huang B. Systemic response of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis against acute cadmium stress. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 194:132-139. [PMID: 29179148 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals have become one of the main pollutants in the marine environment and a major threat to the growth and reproduction of stony corals. In the present study, the density of symbiotic zooxanthellae, levels of crucial physiological activities and the transcriptome were investigated in the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis after the acute exposure to elevated cadmium concentration. The density of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased significantly during 12-24h period, and reached lowest at 24h after acute cadmium stress. No significant changes were observed in the activity of glutathione S-transferase during the entire stress exposure. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and the concentration of glutathione decreased significantly, but the activation level of caspase3 increased significantly after cadmium exposure. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed 3538 significantly upregulated genes and 8048 significantly downregulated genes at 12h after the treatment. There were 12 overrepresented GO terms for significantly upregulated genes, mostly related to unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. In addition, a total of 32 GO terms were overrepresented for significantly downregulated genes, and mainly correlated with macromolecular metabolic processes. These results collectively suggest that acute cadmium stress could induce apoptosis by repressing the production of the antioxidants, elevating oxidative stress and activating the unfolded protein response. This cascade of reactions would result to the collapse of the coral-zooxanthella symbiosis and the expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae in the stony coral P. damicornis, ultimately leading to coral bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Jia Tang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Yibo Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China
| | - Lingui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China; Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Tropical Hydrobiology and Biotechnology, College of Marine Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
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31
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Baumgarten S, Cziesielski MJ, Thomas L, Michell CT, Esherick LY, Pringle JR, Aranda M, Voolstra CR. Evidence for miRNA-mediated modulation of the host transcriptome in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Mol Ecol 2017; 27:403-418. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Baumgarten
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering; Red Sea Research Center; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha J. Cziesielski
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering; Red Sea Research Center; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Ludivine Thomas
- Bioscience Core Laboratory; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Craig T. Michell
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering; Red Sea Research Center; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Lisl Y. Esherick
- Department of Genetics; Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford CA USA
| | - John R. Pringle
- Department of Genetics; Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford CA USA
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering; Red Sea Research Center; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian R. Voolstra
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering; Red Sea Research Center; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal Saudi Arabia
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32
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Kitchen SA, Poole AZ, Weis VM. Sphingolipid Metabolism of a Sea Anemone Is Altered by the Presence of Dinoflagellate Symbionts. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2017; 233:242-254. [PMID: 29553817 DOI: 10.1086/695846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In host-microbe interactions, signaling lipids function in interpartner communication during both the establishment and maintenance of associations. Previous evidence suggests that sphingolipids play a role in the mutualistic cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbiosis. Exogenously applied sphingolipids have been shown to alter this partnership, though endogenous host regulation of sphingolipids by the sphingosine rheostat under different symbiotic conditions has not been characterized. The rheostat regulates levels of pro-survival sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and pro-apoptotic sphingosine (Sph) through catalytic activities of sphingosine kinase (SPHK) and S1P phosphatase (SGPP). The role of the rheostat in recognition and establishment of cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbiosis was investigated in the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida by measuring gene expression, protein levels, and sphingolipid metabolites in symbiotic, aposymbiotic, and newly recolonized anemones. Comparison of two host populations showed that symbiotic animals from one population had lower SGPP gene expression and Sph lipid concentrations compared to aposymbiotic animals, while the other population had higher S1P concentrations than their aposymbiotic counterparts. In both populations, the host rheostat trended toward host cell survival in the presence of symbionts. Furthermore, upregulation of both rheostat enzymes on the first day of host recolonization by symbionts suggests a role for the rheostat in host-symbiont recognition during symbiosis onset. Collectively, these data suggest a regulatory role of sphingolipid signaling in cnidarian-Symbiodinium symbiosis and symbiont uptake.
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Key Words
- Ct, cycle threshold
- GMP, Gisele Muller-Parker population
- LPS, lipopolysaccharide
- MAMP, microbe-associated molecular pattern
- NSL, no symbionts + light treatment group
- S1P, sphingosine-1-phosphate
- SD, symbionts + dark treatment group
- SGPP, sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase
- SL, symbionts + light treatment group
- SPHK, sphingosine kinase
- Sph, sphingosine
- VWA, Weis Lab population A
- qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction
- rt, room temperature
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33
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Yu X, Huang B, Zhou Z, Tang J, Yu Y. Involvement of caspase3 in the acute stress response to high temperature and elevated ammonium in stony coral Pocillopora damicornis. Gene 2017; 637:108-114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.09.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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34
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Macrander JC, Dimond JL, Bingham BL, Reitzel AM. Transcriptome sequencing and characterization of Symbiodinium muscatinei and Elliptochloris marina, symbionts found within the aggregating sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. Mar Genomics 2017; 37:82-91. [PMID: 28888836 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 08/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing body of literature using transcriptomic data to study how tropical cnidarians and their photosynthetic endosymbionts respond to environmental stressors and participate in metabolic exchange. Despite these efforts, our understanding of how essential genes function to facilitate symbiosis establishment and maintenance remains limited. The inclusion of taxonomically and ecologically diverse endosymbionts will enhance our understanding of these interactions. Here we characterize the transcriptomes of two very different symbionts found within the temperate sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima: the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina and the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium muscatinei. We use a multi-level approach to assess the diversity of genes found across S. muscatinei and E. marina transcriptomes, and compare their overall protein domains with other dinoflagellates and chlorophytes. Our analysis identified several genes that are potentially involved in mitigating stress response (e.g., heat shock proteins pathways for mediating reactive oxygen species) and metabolic exchange (e.g., ion transporters). Finally, we show that S. muscatinei and other Symbiodinium strains are equipped with a high salt peridinin-chl-protein (HSPCP) gene previously identified only in free-living dinoflagellates. The addition of these transcriptomes to the cnidarian-symbiont molecular toolkit will aid in understanding how these vitally important symbiotic relationships are established and maintained across a variety of environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Macrander
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
| | - James L Dimond
- Shannon Point Marine Center, Western Washington University, 1900 Shannon Point Road, Anacortes, WA 98221, USA
| | - Brian L Bingham
- Shannon Point Marine Center, Western Washington University, 1900 Shannon Point Road, Anacortes, WA 98221, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA
| | - Adam M Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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Dani V, Priouzeau F, Mertz M, Mondin M, Pagnotta S, Lacas-Gervais S, Davy SK, Sabourault C. Expression patterns of sterol transporters NPC1 and NPC2 in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Dani
- Institut de Biologie Valrose (iBV); Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
- UMR7138, Equipe Symbiose Marine; Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
| | - Fabrice Priouzeau
- Institut de Biologie Valrose (iBV); Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
- UMR7138, Equipe Symbiose Marine; Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
| | - Marjolijn Mertz
- Institut de Biologie Valrose (iBV); Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
| | - Magali Mondin
- Institut de Biologie Valrose (iBV); Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
| | - Sophie Pagnotta
- Centre Commun de Microscopie Appliquée; Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
| | | | - Simon K. Davy
- School of Biological Sciences; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington New Zealand
| | - Cécile Sabourault
- Institut de Biologie Valrose (iBV); Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
- UMR7138, Equipe Symbiose Marine; Université Côte d'Azur; Nice France
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Zhou Z, Zhang G, Chen G, Ni X, Guo L, Yu X, Xiao C, Xu Y, Shi X, Huang B. Elevated ammonium reduces the negative effect of heat stress on the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 118:319-327. [PMID: 28302358 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 02/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and environmental pollution have been threatening the survival of corals. In the present study, whole transcriptomes of the coral Pocillopora damicornis were sequenced under high temperature and elevated ammonium. After reads mapping and abundance estimation, differentially expressed genes were obtained in the Control/Heat, Control/Heat_NH4 and Heat/Heat_NH4 comparisons. Five overrepresented GO terms centering the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway were noted for significantly upregulated genes in the Control/Heat and Control/Heat_NH4 comparisons. In addition, five GO terms related to apoptosis and cell death were overrepresented for significantly upregulated genes in the Control/Heat comparison but not in the Control/Heat_NH4 comparison. The expression level of 112 genes in these GO terms increased significantly in the Heat group, but only 44 genes showed the increase trend in the Heat_NH4 group. These results collectively suggested that elevated ammonium could reduce the negative effect of heat stress on the coral P. damicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Guoqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Guangmei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xingzhen Ni
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Liping Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China; Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Chunlin Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yanlai Xu
- Qingdao First Sanitarium of Jinan Military Region, Qingdao 266071, China
| | | | - Bo Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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Oakley CA, Durand E, Wilkinson SP, Peng L, Weis VM, Grossman AR, Davy SK. Thermal Shock Induces Host Proteostasis Disruption and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Model Symbiotic Cnidarian Aiptasia. J Proteome Res 2017; 16:2121-2134. [PMID: 28474894 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Coral bleaching has devastating effects on coral survival and reef ecosystem function, but many of the fundamental cellular effects of thermal stress on cnidarian physiology are unclear. We used label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to compare the effects of rapidly (33.5 °C, 24 h) and gradually (30 and 33.5 °C, 12 days) elevated temperatures on the proteome of the model symbiotic anemone Aiptasia. We identified 2133 proteins in Aiptasia, 136 of which were differentially abundant between treatments. Thermal shock, but not acclimation, resulted in significant abundance changes in 104 proteins, including those involved in protein folding and synthesis, redox homeostasis, and central metabolism. Nineteen abundant structural proteins showed particularly reduced abundance, demonstrating proteostasis disruption and potential protein synthesis inhibition. Heat shock induced antioxidant mechanisms and proteins involved in stabilizing nascent proteins, preventing protein aggregation and degrading damaged proteins, which is indicative of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Host proteostasis disruption occurred before either bleaching or symbiont photoinhibition was detected, suggesting host-derived reactive oxygen species production as the proximate cause of thermal damage. The pronounced abundance changes in endoplasmic reticulum proteins associated with proteostasis and protein turnover indicate that these processes are essential in the cellular response of symbiotic cnidarians to severe thermal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton A Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington , Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Elysanne Durand
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Université Pierre et Marie Curie , Paris 75005, France
| | - Shaun P Wilkinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington , Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Lifeng Peng
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington , Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Virginia M Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Arthur R Grossman
- Department of Plant Biology, The Carnegie Institution for Science , Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington , Wellington 6012, New Zealand
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Yuan C, Zhou Z, Zhang Y, Chen G, Yu X, Ni X, Tang J, Huang B. Effects of elevated ammonium on the transcriptome of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 114:46-52. [PMID: 27567199 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The survival of corals worldwide has been seriously threatened by eutrophication events concomitant with the increase in ocean pollution. In the present study, whole transcriptomes of the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis exposed to elevated ammonium were sequenced. A total of 121,366,983 pair-end reads were obtained, and 209,337 genes were assembled, including 42,399 coral-derived and 54,874 zooxanthella-derived genes. Further, a comparison of the control versus stress group revealed 6572 differentially expressed genes. For 1015 significantly upregulated genes, 24 GO terms were overrepresented, among which 3 terms related to apoptosis and cell death induction included one caspase, five bcl-2-like proteins, and two tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member genes. For 5557 significantly downregulated genes, the top 10 overrepresented terms were related to metabolism and signal transduction. These results indicate that apoptosis and cell death could be induced under elevated ammonium, suggesting that metabolic regulation and signal transduction might be involved in the reconstruction of the coral-zooxanthellae symbiotic balance in the stony coral P. damicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yidan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangmei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingzhen Ni
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Tang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China.
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Pey A, Zamoum T, Christen R, Merle PL, Furla P. Characterization of glutathione peroxidase diversity in the symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Biochimie 2017; 132:94-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Mohamed AR, Cumbo V, Harii S, Shinzato C, Chan CX, Ragan MA, Bourne DG, Willis BL, Ball EE, Satoh N, Miller DJ. The transcriptomic response of the coral
Acropora digitifera
to a competent
Symbiodinium
strain: the symbiosome as an arrested early phagosome. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3127-41. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. R. Mohamed
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Comparative Genomics Centre and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Zoology Department Faculty of Science Benha University Benha 13518 Egypt
- AIMS@JCU Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Australian Institute of Marine Science James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - V. Cumbo
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences Macquarie University Sydney NSW 2109 Australia
| | - S. Harii
- Sesoko Station Tropical Biosphere Research Center University of the Ryukyus 3422 Sesoko Motobu Okinawa 905‐0227 Japan
| | - C. Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation Onna Okinawa 904‐0412 Japan
| | - C. X. Chan
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
| | - M. A. Ragan
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
| | - D. G. Bourne
- Australian Institute for Marine Science PMB 3 Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - B. L. Willis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Department of Marine Ecosystems and Impacts James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - E. E. Ball
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
| | - N. Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation Onna Okinawa 904‐0412 Japan
| | - D. J. Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Comparative Genomics Centre and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
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Poole AZ, Kitchen SA, Weis VM. The Role of Complement in Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis and Immune Challenge in the Sea Anemone Aiptasia pallida. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:519. [PMID: 27148208 PMCID: PMC4840205 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The complement system is an innate immune pathway that in vertebrates, is responsible for initial recognition and ultimately phagocytosis and destruction of microbes. Several complement molecules including C3, Factor B, and mannose binding lectin associated serine proteases (MASP) have been characterized in invertebrates and while most studies have focused on their conserved role in defense against pathogens, little is known about their role in managing beneficial microbes. The purpose of this study was to (1) characterize complement pathway genes in the symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pallida, (2) investigate the evolution of complement genes in invertebrates, and (3) examine the potential dual role of complement genes Factor B and MASP in the onset and maintenance of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and immune challenge using qPCR based studies. The results demonstrate that A. pallida has multiple Factor B genes (Ap_Bf-1, Ap_Bf-2a, and Ap_Bf-2b) and one MASP gene (Ap_MASP). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the evolutionary history of complement genes is complex, and there have been many gene duplications or gene loss events, even within members of the same phylum. Gene expression analyses revealed a potential role for complement in both onset and maintenance of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and immune challenge. Specifically, Ap_Bf-1 and Ap_MASP are significantly upregulated in the light at the onset of symbiosis and in response to challenge with the pathogen Serratia marcescens suggesting that they play a role in the initial recognition of both beneficial and harmful microbes. Ap_Bf-2b in contrast, was generally downregulated during the onset and maintenance of symbiosis and in response to challenge with S. marcescens. Therefore, the exact role of Ap_Bf-2b in response to microbes remains unclear, but the results suggest that the presence of microbes leads to repressed expression. Together, these results indicate functional divergence between Ap_Bf-1 and Ap_Bf-2b, and that Ap_Bf-1 and Ap_MASP may be functioning together in an ancestral hybrid of the lectin and alternative complement pathways. Overall, this study provides information on the role of the complement system in a basal metazoan and its role in host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Z Poole
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR, USA; Department of Biology, Western Oregon UniverstiyMonmouth, OR, USA
| | - Sheila A Kitchen
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Virginia M Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, USA
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43
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Nicosia A, Maggio T, Costa S, Salamone M, Tagliavia M, Mazzola S, Gianguzza F, Cuttitta A. Maintenance of a Protein Structure in the Dynamic Evolution of TIMPs over 600 Million Years. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:1056-71. [PMID: 26957029 PMCID: PMC4860685 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the events leading to protein evolution represents a challenge, especially for protein families showing complex evolutionary history. Among them, TIMPs represent an ancient eukaryotic protein family widely distributed in the animal kingdom. They are known to control the turnover of the extracellular matrix and are considered to arise early during metazoan evolution, arguably tuning essential features of tissue and epithelial organization. To probe the structure and molecular evolution of TIMPs within metazoans, we report the mining and structural characterization of a large data set of TIMPs over approximately 600 Myr. The TIMPs repertoire was explored starting from the Cnidaria phylum, coeval with the origins of connective tissue, to great apes and humans. Despite dramatic sequence differences compared with highest metazoans, the ancestral proteins displayed the canonical TIMP fold. Only small structural changes, represented by an α-helix located in the N-domain, have occurred over the evolution. Both the occurrence of such secondary structure elements and the relative solvent accessibility of the corresponding residues in the three-dimensional structures raises the possibility that these sites represent unconserved element prone to accept variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Nicosia
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR) Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Torretta Granitola, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
| | - Teresa Maggio
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research-ISPRA, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Salvatore Costa
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Monica Salamone
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR) Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Torretta Granitola, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
| | - Marcello Tagliavia
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR) Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Torretta Granitola, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mazzola
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR) Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Torretta Granitola, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Gianguzza
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo, Sicily, Italy
| | - Angela Cuttitta
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council-Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR) Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Torretta Granitola, Trapani, Sicily, Italy
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44
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Bellis ES, Howe DK, Denver DR. Genome-wide polymorphism and signatures of selection in the symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:160. [PMID: 26926343 PMCID: PMC4772690 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2488-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coral reef ecosystems are declining in response to global climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Yet patterns of standing genetic variation within cnidarian species, a major determinant of adaptive potential, are virtually unknown at genome-scale resolution. We explore patterns of genome-wide polymorphism and identify candidate loci under selection in the sea anemone Aiptasia, an important laboratory model system for studying the symbiosis between corals and dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium. Results Low coverage genome sequencing revealed large genetic distances among globally widespread lineages, novel candidate targets of selection, and considerably higher heterozygosity than previously reported for Aiptasia. More than 670,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified among 10 Aiptasia individuals including two pairs of genetic clones. Evolutionary relationships based on genome-wide polymorphism supported the current paradigm of a genetically distinct population from the US South Atlantic that harbors diverse Symbiodinium clades. However, anemones from the US South Atlantic demonstrated a striking lack of shared derived polymorphism. Heterozygosity was an important feature shaping nucleotide diversity patterns: at any given SNP site, more than a third of individuals genotyped were heterozygotes, and heterozygosity within individual genomes ranged from 0.37–0.58 %. Analysis of nonsynonymous and synonymous sites suggested that highly heterozygous regions are evolving under relaxed purifying selection compared to the rest of the Aiptasia genome. Genes previously identified as having elevated evolutionary rates in Aiptasia compared to other cnidarians were found in our study to be under strong purifying selection within Aiptasia. Candidate targets of selection, including lectins and genes involved in Rho GTPase signalling, were identified based on unusual signatures of nucleotide diversity, Tajima’s D, and heterozygosity compared to genome-wide averages. Conclusions This study represents the first genome-wide analysis of Tajima’s D in a cnidarian. Our results shed light on patterns of intraspecific genome-wide polymorphism in a model for studies of coral-algae symbiosis and present genetic targets for future research on evolutionary and cellular processes in early-diverging metazoans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2488-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Bellis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, OR, USA.
| | - Dana K Howe
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, OR, USA.
| | - Dee R Denver
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, OR, USA.
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Oakley CA, Ameismeier MF, Peng L, Weis VM, Grossman AR, Davy SK. Symbiosis induces widespread changes in the proteome of the model cnidarianAiptasia. Cell Microbiol 2016; 18:1009-23. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Clinton A. Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington 6012 New Zealand
| | - Michael F. Ameismeier
- Gene Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; University of Munich; Munich 81377 Germany
| | - Lifeng Peng
- School of Biological Sciences; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington 6012 New Zealand
| | - Virginia M. Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology; Oregon State University; Corvallis OR 97331 USA
| | - Arthur R. Grossman
- Department of Plant Biology; The Carnegie Institution; Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Simon K. Davy
- School of Biological Sciences; Victoria University of Wellington; Wellington 6012 New Zealand
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46
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Hillyer KE, Tumanov S, Villas-Bôas S, Davy SK. Metabolite profiling of symbiont and host during thermal stress and bleaching in a model cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 219:516-27. [PMID: 26685173 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.128660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Bleaching (dinoflagellate symbiont loss) is one of the greatest threats facing coral reefs. The functional cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, which forms coral reefs, is based on the bi-directional exchange of nutrients. During thermal stress this exchange breaks down; however, major gaps remain in our understanding of the roles of free metabolite pools in symbiosis and homeostasis. In this study we applied gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to explore thermally induced changes in intracellular pools of amino and non-amino organic acids in each partner of the model sea anemone Aiptasia sp. and its dinoflagellate symbiont. Elevated temperatures (32 °C for 6 days) resulted in symbiont photoinhibition and bleaching. Thermal stress induced distinct changes in the metabolite profiles of both partners, associated with alterations to central metabolism, oxidative state, cell structure, biosynthesis and signalling. Principally, we detected elevated pools of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the symbiont, indicative of modifications to lipogenesis/lysis, membrane structure and nitrogen assimilation. In contrast, reductions of multiple PUFAs were detected in host pools, indicative of increased metabolism, peroxidation and/or reduced translocation of these groups. Accumulations of glycolysis intermediates were also observed in both partners, associated with photoinhibition and downstream reductions in carbohydrate metabolism. Correspondingly, we detected accumulations of amino acids and intermediate groups in both partners, with roles in gluconeogenesis and acclimation responses to oxidative stress. These data further our understanding of cellular responses to thermal stress in the symbiosis and generate hypotheses relating to the secondary roles of a number of compounds in homeostasis and heat-stress resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Hillyer
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Sergey Tumanov
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Silas Villas-Bôas
- Metabolomics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019 Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Simon K Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
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Revel J, Massi L, Mehiri M, Boutoute M, Mayzaud P, Capron L, Sabourault C. Differential distribution of lipids in epidermis, gastrodermis and hosted Symbiodinium in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2015; 191:140-151. [PMID: 26478191 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis mainly relies on nutrient recycling, thus providing both partners with a competitive advantage in nutrient-poor waters. Essential processes related to lipid metabolism can be influenced by various factors, including hyperthermal stress. This can affect the lipid content and distribution in both partners, while contributing to symbiosis disruption and bleaching. In order to gain further insight into the role and distribution of lipids in the cnidarian metabolism, we investigated the lipid composition of the sea anemone Anemonia viridis and its photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodinium). We compared the lipid content and fatty acid profiles of the host cellular layers, non-symbiotic epidermal and symbiont-containing gastrodermal cells, and those of Symbiodinium, in a mass spectrometry-based assessment. Lipids were more concentrated in Symbiodinium cells, and the lipid class distribution was dominated by polar lipids in all tissues. The fatty acid distribution between host cell layers and Symbiodinium cells suggested potential lipid transfers between the partners. The lipid composition and distribution was modified during short-term hyperthermal stress, mainly in Symbiodinium cells and gastrodermis. Exposure to elevated temperature rapidly caused a decrease in polar lipid C18 unsaturated fatty acids and a strong and rapid decrease in the abundance of polar lipid fatty acids relative to sterols. These lipid indicators could therefore be used as sensitive biomarkers to assess the physiology of symbiotic cnidarians, especially the effect of thermal stress at the onset of cnidarian bleaching. Overall, the findings of this study provide some insight on key lipids that may regulate maintenance of the symbiotic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johana Revel
- Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, UMR7138, Equipe Symbiose Marine, F-06000 Nice, France; Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, UMR7138, F-75005 Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Lionel Massi
- Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR7272, F-06000 Nice, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Mohamed Mehiri
- Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR7272, F-06000 Nice, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Marc Boutoute
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Laboratoire Océanologique de Villefranche sur Mer, UMR 7093, F-06320 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Patrick Mayzaud
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Laboratoire Océanologique de Villefranche sur Mer, UMR 7093, F-06320 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Laure Capron
- Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR7272, F-06000 Nice, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Sabourault
- Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, UMR7138, Equipe Symbiose Marine, F-06000 Nice, France; Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, UMR7138, F-75005 Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75005 Paris, France.
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48
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Abstract
The most diverse marine ecosystems, coral reefs, depend upon a functional symbiosis between a cnidarian animal host (the coral) and intracellular photosynthetic dinoflagellate algae. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this endosymbiosis are not well understood, in part because of the difficulties of experimental work with corals. The small sea anemone Aiptasia provides a tractable laboratory model for investigating these mechanisms. Here we report on the assembly and analysis of the Aiptasia genome, which will provide a foundation for future studies and has revealed several features that may be key to understanding the evolution and function of the endosymbiosis. These features include genomic rearrangements and taxonomically restricted genes that may be functionally related to the symbiosis, aspects of host dependence on alga-derived nutrients, a novel and expanded cnidarian-specific family of putative pattern-recognition receptors that might be involved in the animal-algal interactions, and extensive lineage-specific horizontal gene transfer. Extensive integration of genes of prokaryotic origin, including genes for antimicrobial peptides, presumably reflects an intimate association of the animal-algal pair also with its prokaryotic microbiome.
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49
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Bertucci A, Forêt S, Ball EE, Miller DJ. Transcriptomic differences between day and night in Acropora millepora provide new insights into metabolite exchange and light-enhanced calcification in corals. Mol Ecol 2015. [PMID: 26198296 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary success of reef-building corals is often attributed to their symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, but metabolic interactions between the partners and the molecular bases of light-enhanced calcification (LEC) are not well understood. Here, the metabolic bases of the interaction between the coral Acropora millepora and its dinoflagellate symbiont were investigated by comparing gene expression levels under light and dark conditions at the whole transcriptome level. Among the 497 differentially expressed genes identified, a suite of genes involved in cholesterol transport was found to be upregulated under light conditions, confirming the significance of this compound in the coral symbiosis. Although ion transporters likely to have roles in calcification were not differentially expressed in this study, expression levels of many genes associated with skeletal organic matrix composition and organization were higher in light conditions. This implies that the rate of organic matrix synthesis is one factor limiting calcification at night. Thus, LEC during the day is likely to be a consequence of increases in both matrix synthesis and the supply of precursor molecules as a result of photosynthetic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bertucci
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia
| | - S Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia.,Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Bldg. 46, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - E E Ball
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia.,Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Bldg. 46, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - D J Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia.,Comparative Genomics Centre and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia
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50
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Krediet CJ, DeNofrio JC, Caruso C, Burriesci MS, Cella K, Pringle JR. Rapid, Precise, and Accurate Counts of Symbiodinium Cells Using the Guava Flow Cytometer, and a Comparison to Other Methods. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135725. [PMID: 26291447 PMCID: PMC4546242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In studies of both the establishment and breakdown of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, it is often necessary to determine the number of Symbiodinium cells relative to the quantity of host tissue. Ideally, the methods used should be rapid, precise, and accurate. In this study, we systematically evaluated methods for sample preparation and storage and the counting of algal cells using the hemocytometer, a custom image-analysis program for automated counting of the fluorescent algal cells, the Coulter Counter, or the Millipore Guava flow-cytometer. We found that although other methods may have value in particular applications, for most purposes, the Guava flow cytometer provided by far the best combination of precision, accuracy, and efficient use of investigator time (due to the instrument's automated sample handling), while also allowing counts of algal numbers over a wide range and in small volumes of tissue homogenate. We also found that either of two assays of total homogenate protein provided a precise and seemingly accurate basis for normalization of algal counts to the total amount of holobiont tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory J. Krediet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jan C. DeNofrio
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Carlo Caruso
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew S. Burriesci
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Kristen Cella
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - John R. Pringle
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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