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Ricaurte M, Schizas NV, Weil EF, Ciborowski P, Boukli NM. Seasonal Proteome Variations in Orbicella faveolata Reveal Molecular Thermal Stress Adaptations. Proteomes 2024; 12:20. [PMID: 39051238 PMCID: PMC11270422 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes12030020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Although seasonal water temperatures typically fluctuate by less than 4 °C across most tropical reefs, sustained heat stress with an increase of even 1 °C can alter and destabilize metabolic and physiological coral functions, leading to losses of coral reefs worldwide. The Caribbean region provides a natural experimental design to study how corals respond physiologically throughout the year. While characterized by warm temperatures and precipitation, there is a significant seasonal component with relative cooler and drier conditions during the months of January to February and warmer and wetter conditions during September and October. We conducted a comparative abundance of differentially expressed proteins with two contrasting temperatures during the cold and warm seasons of 2014 and 2015 in Orbicella faveolata, one of the most important and affected reef-building corals of the Caribbean. All presented proteoforms (42) were found to be significant in our proteomics differential expression analysis and classified based on their gene ontology. The results were accomplished by a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) to separate and visualize proteins and mass spectrometry (MS) for protein identification. To validate the differentially expressed proteins of Orbicella faveolata at the transcription level, qRT-PCR was performed. Our data indicated that a 3.1 °C increase in temperature in O. faveolata between the cold and warm seasons in San Cristobal and Enrique reefs of southwestern Puerto Rico was enough to affect the expression of a significant number of proteins associated with oxidative and heat stress responses, metabolism, immunity, and apoptosis. This research extends our knowledge into the mechanistic response of O. faveolata to mitigate thermal seasonal temperature variations in coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Ricaurte
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA; (M.R.)
| | - Nikolaos V. Schizas
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA; (M.R.)
| | - Ernesto F. Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA; (M.R.)
| | - Pawel Ciborowski
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility, Durham Research Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Nawal M. Boukli
- Biomedical Proteomics Facility, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamón, PR 00960, USA
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2
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Barroso RA, Ramos L, Moreno H, Antunes A. Evolutionary Analysis of Cnidaria Small Cysteine-Rich Proteins (SCRiPs), an Enigmatic Neurotoxin Family from Stony Corals and Sea Anemones (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia). Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:75. [PMID: 38393153 PMCID: PMC10892658 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cnidarians (corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish) produce toxins that play central roles in key ecological processes, including predation, defense, and competition, being the oldest extant venomous animal lineage. Cnidaria small cysteine-rich proteins (SCRiPs) were the first family of neurotoxins detected in stony corals, one of the ocean's most crucial foundation species. Yet, their molecular evolution remains poorly understood. Moreover, the lack of a clear classification system has hindered the establishment of an accurate and phylogenetically informed nomenclature. In this study, we extensively surveyed 117 genomes and 103 transcriptomes of cnidarians to identify orthologous SCRiP gene sequences. We annotated a total of 168 novel putative SCRiPs from over 36 species of stony corals and 12 species of sea anemones. Phylogenetic reconstruction identified four distinct SCRiP subfamilies, according to strict discrimination criteria based on well-supported monophyly with a high percentage of nucleotide and amino acids' identity. Although there is a high prevalence of purifying selection for most SCRiP subfamilies, with few positively selected sites detected, a subset of Acroporidae sequences is influenced by diversifying positive selection, suggesting potential neofunctionalizations related to the fine-tuning of toxin potency. We propose a new nomenclature classification system relying on the phylogenetic distribution and evolution of SCRiPs across Anthozoa, which will further assist future proteomic and functional research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Alexandre Barroso
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.B.); (L.R.); (H.M.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luana Ramos
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.B.); (L.R.); (H.M.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Moreno
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.B.); (L.R.); (H.M.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.B.); (L.R.); (H.M.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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3
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Capasso L, Aranda M, Cui G, Pousse M, Tambutté S, Zoccola D. Investigating calcification-related candidates in a non-symbiotic scleractinian coral, Tubastraea spp. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13515. [PMID: 35933557 PMCID: PMC9357087 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17022-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In hermatypic scleractinian corals, photosynthetic fixation of CO2 and the production of CaCO3 are intimately linked due to their symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates of the Symbiodiniaceae family. This makes it difficult to study ion transport mechanisms involved in the different pathways. In contrast, most ahermatypic scleractinian corals do not share this symbiotic relationship and thus offer an advantage when studying the ion transport mechanisms involved in the calcification process. Despite this advantage, non-symbiotic scleractinian corals have been systematically neglected in calcification studies, resulting in a lack of data especially at the molecular level. Here, we combined a tissue micro-dissection technique and RNA-sequencing to identify calcification-related ion transporters, and other candidates, in the ahermatypic non-symbiotic scleractinian coral Tubastraea spp. Our results show that Tubastraea spp. possesses several calcification-related candidates previously identified in symbiotic scleractinian corals (such as SLC4-γ, AMT-1like, CARP, etc.). Furthermore, we identify and describe a role in scleractinian calcification for several ion transporter candidates (such as SLC13, -16, -23, etc.) identified for the first time in this study. Taken together, our results provide not only insights about the molecular mechanisms underlying non-symbiotic scleractinian calcification, but also valuable tools for the development of biotechnological solutions to better control the extreme invasiveness of corals belonging to this particular genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Capasso
- Marine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM), 8 Quai Antoine 1er, Monte Carlo, 9800, Monaco
- Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Marine Science Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Guoxin Cui
- Marine Science Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Red Sea Research Center Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Melanie Pousse
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, Institut for Research On Cancer and Aging, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School of Nice, Nice, France
| | - Sylvie Tambutté
- Marine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM), 8 Quai Antoine 1er, Monte Carlo, 9800, Monaco.
| | - Didier Zoccola
- Marine Biology Department, Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM), 8 Quai Antoine 1er, Monte Carlo, 9800, Monaco.
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4
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Schmidt CA, Cooke I, Wilson DT, Miller DJ, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Field M, Takjoo R, Smout MJ, Loukas A, Daly NL. Newly Discovered Peptides from the Coral Heliofungia actiniformis Show Structural and Functional Diversity. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:1789-1798. [PMID: 35829679 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are crucially important to the health of some of the world's most biodiverse, productive, and economically important marine habitats. Despite this importance, analysis of coral peptidomes is still in its infancy. Here we show that the tentacle extract from the stony coral Heliofungia actiniformis is rich in peptides with diverse and novel structures. We have characterized the sequences and three-dimensional structures of four new peptides, three of which have no known homologues. We show that a 2 kDa peptide, Hact-2, promotes significant cell proliferation on human cells and speculate this peptide may be involved in the remarkable regenerative capacity of corals. We found a 3 kDa peptide, Hact-3, encoded within a fascin-like domain, and homologues of Hact-3 are present in the genomes of other coral species. Two additional peptides, Hact-4 and Hact-SCRiP1, with limited sequence similarity, both contain a beta-defensin-like fold and highlight a structural link with the small cysteine-rich proteins (SCRiP) family of proteins found predominantly in corals. Our results provide a first glimpse into the remarkable and unexplored structural diversity of coral peptides, providing insight into their diversity and putative functions and, given the ancient lineage of corals, potential insight into the evolution of structural motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey A Schmidt
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David T Wilson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of 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
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Matthew Field
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Rozita Takjoo
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Michael J Smout
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Norelle L Daly
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
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5
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Zayed AA, Wainaina JM, Dominguez-Huerta G, Pelletier E, Guo J, Mohssen M, Tian F, Pratama AA, Bolduc B, Zablocki O, Cronin D, Solden L, Delage E, Alberti A, Aury JM, Carradec Q, da Silva C, Labadie K, Poulain J, Ruscheweyh HJ, Salazar G, Shatoff E, Coordinators TO, Bundschuh R, Fredrick K, Kubatko LS, Chaffron S, Culley AI, Sunagawa S, Kuhn JH, Wincker P, Sullivan MB. Cryptic and abundant marine viruses at the evolutionary origins of Earth's RNA virome. Science 2022; 376:156-162. [PMID: 35389782 PMCID: PMC10990476 DOI: 10.1126/science.abm5847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Whereas DNA viruses are known to be abundant, diverse, and commonly key ecosystem players, RNA viruses are insufficiently studied outside disease settings. In this study, we analyzed ≈28 terabases of Global Ocean RNA sequences to expand Earth's RNA virus catalogs and their taxonomy, investigate their evolutionary origins, and assess their marine biogeography from pole to pole. Using new approaches to optimize discovery and classification, we identified RNA viruses that necessitate substantive revisions of taxonomy (doubling phyla and adding >50% new classes) and evolutionary understanding. "Species"-rank abundance determination revealed that viruses of the new phyla "Taraviricota," a missing link in early RNA virus evolution, and "Arctiviricota" are widespread and dominant in the oceans. These efforts provide foundational knowledge critical to integrating RNA viruses into ecological and epidemiological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A. Zayed
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - James M. Wainaina
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Guillermo Dominguez-Huerta
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Eric Pelletier
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Jiarong Guo
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mohamed Mohssen
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- The Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Funing Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Akbar Adjie Pratama
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Benjamin Bolduc
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Olivier Zablocki
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dylan Cronin
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Lindsey Solden
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Erwan Delage
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
- Nantes Université, CNRS UMR 6004, LS2N, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Adriana Alberti
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Quentin Carradec
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Corinne da Silva
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Karine Labadie
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Guillem Salazar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elan Shatoff
- Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | - Ralf Bundschuh
- The Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kurt Fredrick
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Laura S. Kubatko
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Statistics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Samuel Chaffron
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
- Nantes Université, CNRS UMR 6004, LS2N, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Alexander I. Culley
- Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bio-informatique, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François-Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91000 Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GOSEE, 75016 Paris, France
| | - Matthew B. Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- The Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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6
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Romano G, Almeida M, Varela Coelho A, Cutignano A, Gonçalves LG, Hansen E, Khnykin D, Mass T, Ramšak A, Rocha MS, Silva TH, Sugni M, Ballarin L, Genevière AM. Biomaterials and Bioactive Natural Products from Marine Invertebrates: From Basic Research to Innovative Applications. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20040219. [PMID: 35447892 PMCID: PMC9027906 DOI: 10.3390/md20040219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquatic invertebrates are a major source of biomaterials and bioactive natural products that can find applications as pharmaceutics, nutraceutics, cosmetics, antibiotics, antifouling products and biomaterials. Symbiotic microorganisms are often the real producers of many secondary metabolites initially isolated from marine invertebrates; however, a certain number of them are actually synthesized by the macro-organisms. In this review, we analysed the literature of the years 2010–2019 on natural products (bioactive molecules and biomaterials) from the main phyla of marine invertebrates explored so far, including sponges, cnidarians, molluscs, echinoderms and ascidians, and present relevant examples of natural products of interest to public and private stakeholders. We also describe omics tools that have been more relevant in identifying and understanding mechanisms and processes underlying the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in marine invertebrates. Since there is increasing attention on finding new solutions for a sustainable large-scale supply of bioactive compounds, we propose that a possible improvement in the biodiscovery pipeline might also come from the study and utilization of aquatic invertebrate stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Romano
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Mariana Almeida
- 3B’s Research Group, I3B’s—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark—Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.S.R.); (T.H.S.)
- ICVS/3B´s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Varela Coelho
- ITQB NOVA, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.V.C.); (L.G.G.)
| | - Adele Cutignano
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy;
- CNR-Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Luis G Gonçalves
- ITQB NOVA, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.V.C.); (L.G.G.)
| | - Espen Hansen
- Marbio, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromso, Norway;
| | - Denis Khnykin
- Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology (LIIPAT), Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet, 0450 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Tali Mass
- Faculty of Natural Science, Department of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
| | - Andreja Ramšak
- National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia;
| | - Miguel S. Rocha
- 3B’s Research Group, I3B’s—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark—Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.S.R.); (T.H.S.)
- ICVS/3B´s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Tiago H. Silva
- 3B’s Research Group, I3B’s—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics of University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark—Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.S.R.); (T.H.S.)
- ICVS/3B´s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Michela Sugni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria, 2, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Loriano Ballarin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35100 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Anne-Marie Genevière
- Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 1 Avenue Pierre Fabre, 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France;
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7
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Kaposi K, Courtney R, Seymour J. Implications of bleaching on cnidarian venom ecology. Toxicon X 2022; 13:100094. [PMID: 35146416 PMCID: PMC8819380 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cnidarian bleaching research often focuses on the effects on a cnidarian's physiological health and fitness, whilst little focus has been towards the impacts of these events on their venom ecology. Given the importance of a cnidarian's venom to their survival and the increasing threat of bleaching events, it is important to understand the effects that this threat may have on this important aspect of their ecology as it may have unforeseen impacts on their ability to catch prey and defend themselves. This review aims to explore evidence that suggests that bleaching may impact on each of the key aspects of a cnidarians' venom ecology: cnidae, venom composition, and venom toxicity. Additionally, the resulting energy deficit, compensatory heterotrophic feeding, and increased defensive measures have been highlighted as possible ecological factors driving these changes. Suggestions are also made to guide the success of research in this field into the future, specifically in regards to selecting a study organism, the importance of accurate symbiont and cnidae identification, use of appropriate bleaching methods, determination of bleaching, and animal handling. Ultimately, this review highlights a significant and important gap in our knowledge into how cnidarians are, and will, continue to be impacted by bleaching stress. Information on the effects of bleaching on cnidarian venom ecology is limited. There is evidence to suggest nematocysts, venom composition and venom toxicity may each be impacted by bleaching. Bleaching may result in depleted energy, increased heterotrophy and/or the need for stronger defensive strategies. To fully understand how cnidarians may be impacted by bleaching stress further research in this field is needed. Future studies should consider the model organism and methodologies, thereby minimising indirect confounding effects.
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8
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Robinson SL, Piel J, Sunagawa S. A roadmap for metagenomic enzyme discovery. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:1994-2023. [PMID: 34821235 PMCID: PMC8597712 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00006c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2021Metagenomics has yielded massive amounts of sequencing data offering a glimpse into the biosynthetic potential of the uncultivated microbial majority. While genome-resolved information about microbial communities from nearly every environment on earth is now available, the ability to accurately predict biocatalytic functions directly from sequencing data remains challenging. Compared to primary metabolic pathways, enzymes involved in secondary metabolism often catalyze specialized reactions with diverse substrates, making these pathways rich resources for the discovery of new enzymology. To date, functional insights gained from studies on environmental DNA (eDNA) have largely relied on PCR- or activity-based screening of eDNA fragments cloned in fosmid or cosmid libraries. As an alternative, shotgun metagenomics holds underexplored potential for the discovery of new enzymes directly from eDNA by avoiding common biases introduced through PCR- or activity-guided functional metagenomics workflows. However, inferring new enzyme functions directly from eDNA is similar to searching for a 'needle in a haystack' without direct links between genotype and phenotype. The goal of this review is to provide a roadmap to navigate shotgun metagenomic sequencing data and identify new candidate biosynthetic enzymes. We cover both computational and experimental strategies to mine metagenomes and explore protein sequence space with a spotlight on natural product biosynthesis. Specifically, we compare in silico methods for enzyme discovery including phylogenetics, sequence similarity networks, genomic context, 3D structure-based approaches, and machine learning techniques. We also discuss various experimental strategies to test computational predictions including heterologous expression and screening. Finally, we provide an outlook for future directions in the field with an emphasis on meta-omics, single-cell genomics, cell-free expression systems, and sequence-independent methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jörn Piel
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Zürich, Switzerland.
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9
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Shinzato C, Khalturin K, Inoue J, Zayasu Y, Kanda M, Kawamitsu M, Yoshioka Y, Yamashita H, Suzuki G, Satoh N. Eighteen Coral Genomes Reveal the Evolutionary Origin of Acropora Strategies to Accommodate Environmental Changes. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:16-30. [PMID: 32877528 PMCID: PMC7783167 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Acropora comprises the most diverse and abundant scleractinian corals (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) in coral reefs, the most diverse marine ecosystems on Earth. However, the genetic basis for the success and wide distribution of Acropora are unknown. Here, we sequenced complete genomes of 15 Acropora species and 3 other acroporid taxa belonging to the genera Montipora and Astreopora to examine genomic novelties that explain their evolutionary success. We successfully obtained reasonable draft genomes of all 18 species. Molecular dating indicates that the Acropora ancestor survived warm periods without sea ice from the mid or late Cretaceous to the Early Eocene and that diversification of Acropora may have been enhanced by subsequent cooling periods. In general, the scleractinian gene repertoire is highly conserved; however, coral- or cnidarian-specific possible stress response genes are tandemly duplicated in Acropora. Enzymes that cleave dimethlysulfonioproprionate into dimethyl sulfide, which promotes cloud formation and combats greenhouse gasses, are the most duplicated genes in the Acropora ancestor. These may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from algal symbionts belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae, or from coccolithophores, suggesting that although functions of this enzyme in Acropora are unclear, Acropora may have survived warmer marine environments in the past by enhancing cloud formation. In addition, possible antimicrobial peptides and symbiosis-related genes are under positive selection in Acropora, perhaps enabling adaptation to diverse environments. Our results suggest unique Acropora adaptations to ancient, warm marine environments and provide insights into its capacity to adjust to rising seawater temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Konstantin Khalturin
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Jun Inoue
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.,Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuna Zayasu
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Miyuki Kanda
- DNA Sequence Section (SQC), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Mayumi Kawamitsu
- DNA Sequence Section (SQC), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Yoshioka
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamashita
- Research Center for Subtropical Fisheries, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Go Suzuki
- Research Center for Subtropical Fisheries, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
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10
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Surm JM, Moran Y. Insights into how development and life-history dynamics shape the evolution of venom. EvoDevo 2021; 12:1. [PMID: 33413660 PMCID: PMC7791878 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-020-00171-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Venomous animals are a striking example of the convergent evolution of a complex trait. These animals have independently evolved an apparatus that synthesizes, stores, and secretes a mixture of toxic compounds to the target animal through the infliction of a wound. Among these distantly related animals, some can modulate and compartmentalize functionally distinct venoms related to predation and defense. A process to separate distinct venoms can occur within and across complex life cycles as well as more streamlined ontogenies, depending on their life-history requirements. Moreover, the morphological and cellular complexity of the venom apparatus likely facilitates the functional diversity of venom deployed within a given life stage. Intersexual variation of venoms has also evolved further contributing to the massive diversity of toxic compounds characterized in these animals. These changes in the biochemical phenotype of venom can directly affect the fitness of these animals, having important implications in their diet, behavior, and mating biology. In this review, we explore the current literature that is unraveling the temporal dynamics of the venom system that are required by these animals to meet their ecological functions. These recent findings have important consequences in understanding the evolution and development of a convergent complex trait and its organismal and ecological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim M Surm
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel.
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11
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Schmidt CA, Wilson DT, Cooke I, Potriquet J, Tungatt K, Muruganandah V, Boote C, Kuek F, Miles JJ, Kupz A, Ryan S, Loukas A, Bansal PS, Takjoo R, Miller DJ, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Daly NL. Identification and Characterization of a Peptide from the Stony Coral Heliofungia actiniformis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:3454-3463. [PMID: 33166137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Marine organisms produce a diverse range of toxins and bioactive peptides to support predation, competition, and defense. The peptide repertoires of stony corals (order Scleractinia) remain relatively understudied despite the presence of tentacles used for predation and defense that are likely to contain a range of bioactive compounds. Here, we show that a tentacle extract from the mushroom coral, Heliofungia actiniformis, contains numerous peptides with a range of molecular weights analogous to venom profiles from species such as cone snails. Using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry we characterized a 12-residue peptide (Hact-1) with a new sequence (GCHYTPFGLICF) and well-defined β-hairpin structure stabilized by a single disulfide bond. The sequence is encoded within the genome of the coral and expressed in the polyp body tissue. The structure present is common among toxins and venom peptides, but Hact-1 does not show activity against select examples of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria or a range of ion channels, common properties of such peptides. Instead, it appears to have a limited effect on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but the ecological function of the peptide remains unknown. The discovery of this peptide from H. actiniformis is likely to be the first of many from this and related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey A Schmidt
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - David T Wilson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Jeremy Potriquet
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- AB Sciex, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katie Tungatt
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Visai Muruganandah
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Chloë Boote
- Department of 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
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Felicity Kuek
- Department of 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
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - John J Miles
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Andreas Kupz
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Stephanie Ryan
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Paramjit S Bansal
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - Rozita Takjoo
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of 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
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Norelle L Daly
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
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12
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Mohamed AR, Andrade N, Moya A, Chan CX, Negri AP, Bourne DG, Ying H, Ball EE, Miller DJ. Dual RNA-sequencing analyses of a coral and its native symbiont during the establishment of symbiosis. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3921-3937. [PMID: 32853430 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite the ecological significance of the mutualistic relationship between Symbiodiniaceae and reef-building corals, the molecular interactions during establishment of this relationship are not well understood. This is particularly true of the transcriptional changes that occur in the symbiont. In the current study, a dual RNA-sequencing approach was used to better understand transcriptional changes on both sides of the coral-symbiont interaction during the colonization of Acropora tenuis by a compatible Symbiodiniaceae strain (Cladocopium goreaui; ITS2 type C1). Comparison of transcript levels of the in hospite symbiont 3, 12, 48 and 72 hr after exposure to those of the same strain in culture revealed that extensive and generalized down-regulation of symbiont gene expression occurred during the infection process. Included in this "symbiosis-derived transcriptional repression" were a range of stress response and immune-related genes. In contrast, a suite of symbiont genes implicated in metabolism was upregulated in the symbiotic state. The coral data support the hypothesis that immune-suppression and arrest of phagosome maturation play important roles during the establishment of compatible symbioses, and additionally imply the involvement of some SCRiP family members in the colonization process. Consistent with previous ecological studies, the transcriptomic data suggest that active translocation of metabolites to the host may begin early in the colonization process, and thus that the mutualistic relationship can be established at the larval stage. This dual RNA-sequencing study provides insights into the transcriptomic remodelling that occurs in C. goreaui during transition to a symbiotic lifestyle and the novel coral genes implicated in symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin R Mohamed
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, Australia.,Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Natalia Andrade
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Aurelie Moya
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Andrew P Negri
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Department of Marine Ecosystems and Impacts, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
| | - Hua Ying
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Eldon E Ball
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia
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13
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Sachkova MY, Macrander J, Surm JM, Aharoni R, Menard-Harvey SS, Klock A, Leach WB, Reitzel AM, Moran Y. Some like it hot: population-specific adaptations in venom production to abiotic stressors in a widely distributed cnidarian. BMC Biol 2020; 18:121. [PMID: 32907568 PMCID: PMC7488265 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00855-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In cnidarians, antagonistic interactions with predators and prey are mediated by their venom, whose synthesis may be metabolically expensive. The potentially high cost of venom production has been hypothesized to drive population-specific variation in venom expression due to differences in abiotic conditions. However, the effects of environmental factors on venom production have been rarely demonstrated in animals. Here, we explore the impact of specific abiotic stresses on venom production of distinct populations of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (Actiniaria, Cnidaria) inhabiting estuaries over a broad geographic range where environmental conditions such as temperatures and salinity vary widely. RESULTS We challenged Nematostella polyps with heat, salinity, UV light stressors, and a combination of all three factors to determine how abiotic stressors impact toxin expression for individuals collected across this species' range. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed that the highly abundant toxin Nv1 was the most downregulated gene under heat stress conditions in multiple populations. Physiological measurements demonstrated that venom is metabolically costly to produce. Strikingly, under a range of abiotic stressors, individuals from different geographic locations along this latitudinal cline modulate differently their venom production levels. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that abiotic stress results in venom regulation in Nematostella. Together with anecdotal observations from other cnidarian species, our results suggest this might be a universal phenomenon in Cnidaria. The decrease in venom production under stress conditions across species coupled with the evidence for its high metabolic cost in Nematostella suggests downregulation of venom production under certain conditions may be highly advantageous and adaptive. Furthermore, our results point towards local adaptation of this mechanism in Nematostella populations along a latitudinal cline, possibly resulting from distinct genetics and significant environmental differences between their habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Y Sachkova
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Jason Macrander
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
- Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL, USA
| | - Joachim M Surm
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Reuven Aharoni
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shelcie S Menard-Harvey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Amy Klock
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Whitney B Leach
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Adam M Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
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14
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Klompen AML, Macrander J, Reitzel AM, Stampar SN. Transcriptomic Analysis of Four Cerianthid (Cnidaria, Ceriantharia) Venoms. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18080413. [PMID: 32764303 PMCID: PMC7460484 DOI: 10.3390/md18080413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tube anemones, or cerianthids, are a phylogenetically informative group of cnidarians with complex life histories, including a pelagic larval stage and tube-dwelling adult stage, both known to utilize venom in stinging-cell rich tentacles. Cnidarians are an entirely venomous group that utilize their proteinaceous-dominated toxins to capture prey and defend against predators, in addition to several other ecological functions, including intraspecific interactions. At present there are no studies describing the venom for any species within cerianthids. Given their unique development, ecology, and distinct phylogenetic-placement within Cnidaria, our objective is to evaluate the venom-like gene diversity of four species of cerianthids from newly collected transcriptomic data. We identified 525 venom-like genes between all four species. The venom-gene profile for each species was dominated by enzymatic protein and peptide families, which is consistent with previous findings in other cnidarian venoms. However, we found few toxins that are typical of sea anemones and corals, and furthermore, three of the four species express toxin-like genes closely related to potent pore-forming toxins in box jellyfish. Our study is the first to provide a survey of the putative venom composition of cerianthids and contributes to our general understanding of the diversity of cnidarian toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. L. Klompen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Jason Macrander
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262, USA; (J.M.); (A.M.R.)
- Department of Biology, Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth, Drive Lakeland, FL 33801, USA
| | - Adam M. Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262, USA; (J.M.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Sérgio N. Stampar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), FCL, Assis, SP 19806, Brazil;
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15
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Conci N, Wörheide G, Vargas S. New Non-Bilaterian Transcriptomes Provide Novel Insights into the Evolution of Coral Skeletomes. Genome Biol Evol 2019; 11:3068-3081. [PMID: 31518412 PMCID: PMC6824150 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A general trend observed in animal skeletomes-the proteins occluded in animal skeletons-is the copresence of taxonomically widespread and lineage-specific proteins that actively regulate the biomineralization process. Among cnidarians, the skeletomes of scleractinian corals have been shown to follow this trend. However, distributions and phylogenetic analyses of biomineralization-related genes are often based on only a few species, with other anthozoan calcifiers such as octocorals (soft corals), not being fully considered. We de novo assembled the transcriptomes of four soft-coral species characterized by different calcification strategies (aragonite skeleton vs. calcitic sclerites) and data-mined published nonbilaterian transcriptome resources to construct a taxonomically comprehensive sequence database to map the distribution of scleractinian and octocoral skeletome components. Cnidaria shared no skeletome proteins with Placozoa or Ctenophora, but did share some skeletome proteins with Porifera, such as galaxin-related proteins. Within Scleractinia and Octocorallia, we expanded the distribution for several taxonomically restricted genes such as secreted acidic proteins, scleritin, and carbonic anhydrases, and propose an early, single biomineralization-recruitment event for galaxin sensu stricto. Additionally, we show that the enrichment of acidic residues within skeletogenic proteins did not occur at the Corallimorpharia-Scleractinia transition, but appears to be associated with protein secretion into the organic matrix. Finally, the distribution of octocoral calcification-related proteins appears independent of skeleton mineralogy (i.e., aragonite/calcite) with no differences in the proportion of shared skeletogenic proteins between scleractinians and aragonitic or calcitic octocorals. This points to skeletome homogeneity within but not between groups of calcifying cnidarians, although some proteins such as galaxins and SCRiP-3a could represent instances of commonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Conci
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Gert Wörheide
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center LMU, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- SNSB—Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergio Vargas
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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16
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17
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Madio B, King GF, Undheim EAB. Sea Anemone Toxins: A Structural Overview. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:E325. [PMID: 31159357 PMCID: PMC6627431 DOI: 10.3390/md17060325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea anemones produce venoms of exceptional molecular diversity, with at least 17 different molecular scaffolds reported to date. These venom components have traditionally been classified according to pharmacological activity and amino acid sequence. However, this classification system suffers from vulnerabilities due to functional convergence and functional promiscuity. Furthermore, for most known sea anemone toxins, the exact receptors they target are either unknown, or at best incomplete. In this review, we first provide an overview of the sea anemone venom system and then focus on the venom components. We have organised the venom components by distinguishing firstly between proteins and non-proteinaceous compounds, secondly between enzymes and other proteins without enzymatic activity, then according to the structural scaffold, and finally according to molecular target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Madio
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Eivind A B Undheim
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Centre for Ecology and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
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18
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Lu TC, Leu JY, Lin WC. A Comprehensive Analysis of Transcript-Supported De Novo Genes in Saccharomyces sensu stricto Yeasts. Mol Biol Evol 2018; 34:2823-2838. [PMID: 28981695 PMCID: PMC5850716 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel genes arising from random DNA sequences (de novo genes) have been suggested to be widespread in the genomes of different organisms. However, our knowledge about the origin and evolution of de novo genes is still limited. To systematically understand the general features of de novo genes, we established a robust pipeline to analyze >20,000 transcript-supported coding sequences (CDSs) from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our analysis pipeline combined phylogeny, synteny, and sequence alignment information to identify possible orthologs across 20 Saccharomycetaceae yeasts and discovered 4,340 S. cerevisiae-specific de novo genes and 8,871 S. sensu stricto-specific de novo genes. We further combine information on CDS positions and transcript structures to show that >65% of de novo genes arose from transcript isoforms of ancient genes, especially in the upstream and internal regions of ancient genes. Fourteen identified de novo genes with high transcript levels were chosen to verify their protein expressions. Ten of them, including eight transcript isoform-associated CDSs, showed translation signals and five proteins exhibited specific cytosolic localizations. Our results suggest that de novo genes frequently arise in the S. sensu stricto complex and have the potential to be quickly integrated into ancient cellular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Chiao Lu
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jun-Yi Leu
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chang Lin
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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19
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Babenko VV, Mikov AN, Manuvera VA, Anikanov NA, Kovalchuk SI, Andreev YA, Logashina YA, Kornilov DA, Manolov AI, Sanamyan NP, Sanamyan KE, Kostryukova ES, Kozlov SA, Grishin EV, Govorun VM, Lazarev VN. Identification of unusual peptides with new Cys frameworks in the venom of the cold-water sea anemone Cnidopus japonicus. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14534. [PMID: 29109403 PMCID: PMC5673964 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea anemones (Actiniaria) are intensely popular objects of study in venomics. Order Actiniaria includes more than 1,000 species, thus presenting almost unlimited opportunities for the discovery of novel biologically active molecules. The venoms of cold-water sea anemones are studied far less than the venoms of tropical sea anemones. In this work, we analysed the molecular venom composition of the cold-water sea anemone Cnidopus japonicus. Two sets of NGS data from two species revealed molecules belonging to a variety of structural classes, including neurotoxins, toxin-like molecules, linear polypeptides (Cys-free), enzymes, and cytolytics. High-throughput proteomic analyses identified 27 compounds that were present in the venoms. Some of the toxin-like polypeptides exhibited novel Cys frameworks. To characterise their function in the venom, we heterologously expressed 3 polypeptides with unusual Cys frameworks (designated CjTL7, CjTL8, and AnmTx Cj 1c-1) in E. coli. Toxicity tests revealed that the CjTL8 polypeptide displays strong crustacean-specific toxicity, while AnmTx Cj 1c-1 is toxic to both crustaceans and insects. Thus, an improved NGS data analysis algorithm assisted in the identification of toxins with unusual Cys frameworks showing no homology according to BLAST. Our study shows the advantage of combining omics analysis with functional tests for active polypeptide discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav V Babenko
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia.
| | - Alexander N Mikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Valentin A Manuvera
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Nickolay A Anikanov
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Sergey I Kovalchuk
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Yaroslav A Andreev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Yulia A Logashina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Daniil A Kornilov
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Alexander I Manolov
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Nadya P Sanamyan
- Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Geographical Institute, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683000, Russia
| | - Karen E Sanamyan
- Kamchatka Branch of Pacific Geographical Institute, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 683000, Russia
| | - Elena S Kostryukova
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Sergey A Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Eugene V Grishin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Vadim M Govorun
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Vassili N Lazarev
- Federal Research and Clinical Centre of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Moscow, 119435, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
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20
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Lin MF, Moya A, Ying H, Chen CA, Cooke I, Ball EE, Forêt S, Miller DJ. Analyses of Corallimorpharian Transcriptomes Provide New Perspectives on the Evolution of Calcification in the Scleractinia (Corals). Genome Biol Evol 2017; 9:150-160. [PMID: 28158437 PMCID: PMC5604590 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Corallimorpharians (coral-like anemones) have a close phylogenetic relationship with scleractinians (hard corals) and can potentially provide novel perspectives on the evolution of biomineralization within the anthozoan subclass Hexacorallia. A survey of the transcriptomes of three representative corallimorpharians led to the identification of homologs of some skeletal organic matrix proteins (SOMPs) previously considered to be restricted to corals. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs), which are ubiquitous proteins involved in CO2 trafficking, are involved in both coral calcification and photosynthesis by endosymbiotic Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). These multiple roles are assumed to place increased demands on the CA repertoire and have presumably driven the elaboration of the complex CA repertoires typical of corals (note that “corals” are defined here as reef-building Scleractinia). Comparison of the CA inventories of corallimorpharians with those of corals reveals that corals have specifically expanded the secreted and membrane-associated type CAs, whereas similar complexity is observed in the two groups with respect to other CA types. Comparison of the CA complement of the nonsymbiotic corallimorph Corynactis australis with that of Ricordea yuma, a corallimorph which normally hosts Symbiodinium, reveals similar numbers and distribution of CA types and suggests that an expansion of the CA repertoire has been necessary to enable calcification but may not be a requirement to enable symbiosis. Consistent with this idea, preliminary analysis suggests that the CA complexity of zooxanthellate and nonzooxanthellate sea anemones is similar. The comparisons above suggest that although there are relatively few new genes in the skeletal organic matrix of corals (which controls the skeleton deposition process), the evolution of calcification required an expanded repertoire of secreted and membrane-associated CAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Fang Lin
- Comparative Genomics Centre, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aurelie Moya
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hua Ying
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Chaolun Allen Chen
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan.,Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP)-Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ira Cooke
- Comparative Genomics Centre, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Eldon E Ball
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Comparative Genomics Centre, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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21
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Jouiaei M, Sunagar K, Federman Gross A, Scheib H, Alewood PF, Moran Y, Fry BG. Evolution of an ancient venom: recognition of a novel family of cnidarian toxins and the common evolutionary origin of sodium and potassium neurotoxins in sea anemone. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 32:1598-610. [PMID: 25757852 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite Cnidaria (sea anemones, corals, jellyfish, and hydroids) being the oldest venomous animal lineage, structure-function relationships, phyletic distributions, and the molecular evolutionary regimes of toxins encoded by these intriguing animals are poorly understood. Hence, we have comprehensively elucidated the phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary histories of pharmacologically characterized cnidarian toxin families, including peptide neurotoxins (voltage-gated Na(+) and K(+) channel-targeting toxins: NaTxs and KTxs, respectively), pore-forming toxins (actinoporins, aerolysin-related toxins, and jellyfish toxins), and the newly discovered small cysteine-rich peptides (SCRiPs). We show that despite long evolutionary histories, most cnidarian toxins remain conserved under the strong influence of negative selection-a finding that is in striking contrast to the rapid evolution of toxin families in evolutionarily younger lineages, such as cone snails and advanced snakes. In contrast to the previous suggestions that implicated SCRiPs in the biomineralization process in corals, we demonstrate that they are potent neurotoxins that are likely involved in the envenoming function, and thus represent the first family of neurotoxins from corals. We also demonstrate the common evolutionary origin of type III KTxs and NaTxs in sea anemones. We show that type III KTxs have evolved from NaTxs under the regime of positive selection, and likely represent a unique evolutionary innovation of the Actinioidea lineage. We report a correlation between the accumulation of episodically adaptive sites and the emergence of novel pharmacological activities in this rapidly evolving neurotoxic clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdokht Jouiaei
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Aya Federman Gross
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Holger Scheib
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Alexander Silberman Institute for Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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22
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Hemond EM, Kaluziak ST, Vollmer SV. The genetics of colony form and function in Caribbean Acropora corals. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1133. [PMID: 25519925 PMCID: PMC4320547 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colonial reef-building corals have evolved a broad spectrum of colony morphologies based on coordinated asexual reproduction of polyps on a secreted calcium carbonate skeleton. Though cnidarians have been shown to possess and use similar developmental genes to bilaterians during larval development and polyp formation, little is known about genetic regulation of colony morphology in hard corals. We used RNA-seq to evaluate transcriptomic differences between functionally distinct regions of the coral (apical branch tips and branch bases) in two species of Caribbean Acropora, the staghorn coral, A. cervicornis, and the elkhorn coral, A. palmata. Results Transcriptome-wide gene profiles differed significantly between different parts of the coral colony as well as between species. Genes showing differential expression between branch tips and bases were involved in developmental signaling pathways, such as Wnt, Notch, and BMP, as well as pH regulation, ion transport, extracellular matrix production and other processes. Differences both within colonies and between species identify a relatively small number of genes that may contribute to the distinct “staghorn” versus “elkhorn” morphologies of these two sister species. Conclusions The large number of differentially expressed genes supports a strong division of labor between coral branch tips and branch bases. Genes involved in growth of mature Acropora colonies include the classical signaling pathways associated with development of cnidarian larvae and polyps as well as morphological determination in higher metazoans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1133) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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23
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Shearer TL, Snell TW, Hay ME. Gene expression of corals in response to macroalgal competitors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114525. [PMID: 25500576 PMCID: PMC4264762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As corals decline and macroalgae proliferate on coral reefs, coral-macroalgal competition becomes more frequent and ecologically important. Whether corals are damaged by these interactions depends on susceptibility of the coral and traits of macroalgal competitors. Investigating changes in gene expression of corals and their intracellular symbiotic algae, Symbiodinium, in response to contact with different macroalgae provides insight into the biological processes and cellular pathways affected by competition with macroalgae. We evaluated the gene expression profiles of coral and Symbiodinium genes from two confamilial corals, Acropora millepora and Montipora digitata, after 6 h and 48 h of contact with four common macroalgae that differ in their allelopathic potency to corals. Contacts with macroalgae affected different biological pathways in the more susceptible (A. millepora) versus the more resistant (M. digitata) coral. Genes of coral hosts and of their associated Symbiodinium also responded in species-specific and time-specific ways to each macroalga. Changes in number and expression intensity of affected genes were greater after 6 h compared to 48 h of contact and were greater following contact with Chlorodesmis fastigiata and Amphiroa crassa than following contact with Galaxaura filamentosa or Turbinaria conoides. We documented a divergence in transcriptional responses between two confamilial corals and their associated Symbiodinium, as well as a diversity of dynamic responses within each coral species with respect to the species of macroalgal competitor and the duration of exposure to that competitor. These responses included early initiation of immune processes by Montipora, which is more resistant to damage after long-term macroalgal contact. Activation of the immune response by corals that better resist algal competition is consistent with the hypothesis that some macroalgal effects on corals may be mediated by microbial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonya L. Shearer
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biology, 310 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, United States of America
| | - Terry W. Snell
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biology, 310 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, United States of America
| | - Mark E. Hay
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biology, 310 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Closek CJ, Sunagawa S, DeSalvo MK, Piceno YM, DeSantis TZ, Brodie EL, Weber MX, Voolstra CR, Andersen GL, Medina M. Coral transcriptome and bacterial community profiles reveal distinct Yellow Band Disease states in Orbicella faveolata. ISME JOURNAL 2014; 8:2411-22. [PMID: 24950107 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2014.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Revised: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Coral diseases impact reefs globally. Although we continue to describe diseases, little is known about the etiology or progression of even the most common cases. To examine a spectrum of coral health and determine factors of disease progression we examined Orbicella faveolata exhibiting signs of Yellow Band Disease (YBD), a widespread condition in the Caribbean. We used a novel combined approach to assess three members of the coral holobiont: the coral-host, associated Symbiodinium algae, and bacteria. We profiled three conditions: (1) healthy-appearing colonies (HH), (2) healthy-appearing tissue on diseased colonies (HD), and (3) diseased lesion (DD). Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed health state-specific diversity in Symbiodinium clade associations. 16S ribosomal RNA gene microarrays (PhyloChips) and O. faveolata complimentary DNA microarrays revealed the bacterial community structure and host transcriptional response, respectively. A distinct bacterial community structure marked each health state. Diseased samples were associated with two to three times more bacterial diversity. HD samples had the highest bacterial richness, which included components associated with HH and DD, as well as additional unique families. The host transcriptome under YBD revealed a reduced cellular expression of defense- and metabolism-related processes, while the neighboring HD condition exhibited an intermediate expression profile. Although HD tissue appeared visibly healthy, the microbial communities and gene expression profiles were distinct. HD should be regarded as an additional (intermediate) state of disease, which is important for understanding the progression of YBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin J Closek
- 1] Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA [2] School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Yvette M Piceno
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Eoin L Brodie
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michele X Weber
- 1] Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA [2] School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gary L Andersen
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mónica Medina
- 1] Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA [2] School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
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25
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Molecular evolution of calcification genes in morphologically similar but phylogenetically unrelated scleractinian corals. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2014; 77:281-95. [PMID: 24780747 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Molecular phylogenies of scleractinian corals often fail to agree with traditional phylogenies derived from morphological characters. These discrepancies are generally attributed to non-homologous or morphologically plastic characters used in taxonomic descriptions. Consequently, morphological convergence of coral skeletons among phylogenetically unrelated groups is considered to be the major evolutionary process confounding molecular and morphological hypotheses. A strategy that may help identify cases of convergence and/or diversification in coral morphology is to compare phylogenies of existing "neutral" genetic markers used to estimate genealogic phylogenetic history with phylogenies generated from non-neutral genes involved in calcification (biomineralization). We tested the hypothesis that differences among calcification gene phylogenies with respect to the "neutral" trees may represent convergent or divergent functional strategies among calcification gene proteins that may correlate to aspects of coral skeletal morphology. Partial sequences of two nuclear genes previously determined to be involved in the calcification process in corals, "Cnidaria-III" membrane-bound/secreted α-carbonic anhydrase (CIII-MBSα-CA) and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) 2/4, were PCR-amplified, cloned and sequenced from 31 scleractinian coral species in 26 genera and 9 families. For comparison, "neutral" gene phylogenies were generated from sequences from two protein-coding "non-calcification" genes, one nuclear (β-tubulin) and one mitochondrial (cytochrome b), from the same individuals. Cloned CIII-MBSα-CA sequences were found to be non-neutral, and phylogenetic analyses revealed CIII-MBSα-CAs to exhibit a complex evolutionary history with clones distributed between at least 2 putative gene copies. However, for several coral taxa only one gene copy was recovered. With CIII-MBSα-CA, several recovered clades grouped taxa that differed from the "non-calcification" loci. In some cases, these taxa shared aspects of their skeletal morphology (i.e., convergence or diversification relative to the "non-calcification" loci), but in other cases they did not. For example, the "non-calcification" loci recovered Atlantic and Pacific mussids as separate evolutionary lineages, whereas with CIII-MBSα-CA, clones of two species of Atlantic mussids (Isophyllia sinuosa and Mycetophyllia sp.) and two species of Pacific mussids (Acanthastrea echinata and Lobophyllia hemprichii) were united in a distinct clade (except for one individual of Mycetophyllia). However, this clade also contained other taxa which were not unambiguously correlated with morphological features. BMP2/4 also contained clones that likely represent different gene copies. However, many of the sequences showed no significant deviation from neutrality, and reconstructed phylogenies were similar to the "non-calcification" tree topologies with a few exceptions. Although individual calcification genes are unlikely to precisely explain the diverse morphological features exhibited by scleractinian corals, this study demonstrates an approach for identifying cases where morphological taxonomy may have been misled by convergent and/or divergent molecular evolutionary processes in corals. Studies such as this may help illuminate our understanding of the likely complex evolution of genes involved in the calcification process, and enhance our knowledge of the natural history and biodiversity within this central ecological group.
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26
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Circadian clocks in symbiotic corals: The duet between Symbiodinium algae and their coral host. Mar Genomics 2014; 14:47-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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27
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Siboni N, Abrego D, Motti CA, Tebben J, Harder T. Gene expression patterns during the early stages of chemically induced larval metamorphosis and settlement of the coral Acropora millepora. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91082. [PMID: 24632854 PMCID: PMC3954620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphogenetic transition of motile coral larvae into sessile primary polyps is triggered and genetically programmed upon exposure to environmental biomaterials, such as crustose coralline algae (CCA) and bacterial biofilms. Although the specific chemical cues that trigger coral larval morphogenesis are poorly understood there is much more information available on the genes that play a role in this early life phase. Putative chemical cues from natural biomaterials yielded defined chemical samples that triggered different morphogenetic outcomes: an extract derived from a CCA-associated Pseudoalteromonas bacterium that induced metamorphosis, characterized by non-attached metamorphosed juveniles; and two fractions of the CCA Hydrolithon onkodes (Heydrich) that induced settlement, characterized by attached metamorphosed juveniles. In an effort to distinguish the genes involved in these two morphogenetic transitions, competent larvae of the coral Acropora millepora were exposed to these predictable cues and the expression profiles of 47 coral genes of interest (GOI) were investigated after only 1 hour of exposure using multiplex RT-qPCR. Thirty-two GOI were differentially expressed, indicating a putative role during the early regulation of morphogenesis. The most striking differences were observed for immunity-related genes, hypothesized to be involved in cell recognition and adhesion, and for fluorescent protein genes. Principal component analysis of gene expression profiles resulted in separation between the different morphogenetic cues and exposure times, and not only identified those genes involved in the early response but also those which influenced downstream biological changes leading to larval metamorphosis or settlement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nachshon Siboni
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - David Abrego
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Cherie A. Motti
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Jan Tebben
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tilmann Harder
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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28
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Kenkel CD, Meyer E, Matz MV. Gene expression under chronic heat stress in populations of the mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) from different thermal environments. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:4322-4334. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. D. Kenkel
- Section of Integrative Biology; The University of Texas at Austin; 1 University Station C0990 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - E. Meyer
- Department of Zoology; Oregon State University; 3029 Cordley Hall Corvallis OR 97331 USA
| | - M. V. Matz
- Section of Integrative Biology; The University of Texas at Austin; 1 University Station C0990 Austin TX 78712 USA
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Dunlap WC, Starcevic A, Baranasic D, Diminic J, Zucko J, Gacesa R, van Oppen MJH, Hranueli D, Cullum J, Long PF. KEGG orthology-based annotation of the predicted proteome of Acropora digitifera: ZoophyteBase - an open access and searchable database of a coral genome. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:509. [PMID: 23889801 PMCID: PMC3750612 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contemporary coral reef research has firmly established that a genomic approach is urgently needed to better understand the effects of anthropogenic environmental stress and global climate change on coral holobiont interactions. Here we present KEGG orthology-based annotation of the complete genome sequence of the scleractinian coral Acropora digitifera and provide the first comprehensive view of the genome of a reef-building coral by applying advanced bioinformatics. DESCRIPTION Sequences from the KEGG database of protein function were used to construct hidden Markov models. These models were used to search the predicted proteome of A. digitifera to establish complete genomic annotation. The annotated dataset is published in ZoophyteBase, an open access format with different options for searching the data. A particularly useful feature is the ability to use a Google-like search engine that links query words to protein attributes. We present features of the annotation that underpin the molecular structure of key processes of coral physiology that include (1) regulatory proteins of symbiosis, (2) planula and early developmental proteins, (3) neural messengers, receptors and sensory proteins, (4) calcification and Ca2+-signalling proteins, (5) plant-derived proteins, (6) proteins of nitrogen metabolism, (7) DNA repair proteins, (8) stress response proteins, (9) antioxidant and redox-protective proteins, (10) proteins of cellular apoptosis, (11) microbial symbioses and pathogenicity proteins, (12) proteins of viral pathogenicity, (13) toxins and venom, (14) proteins of the chemical defensome and (15) coral epigenetics. CONCLUSIONS We advocate that providing annotation in an open-access searchable database available to the public domain will give an unprecedented foundation to interrogate the fundamental molecular structure and interactions of coral symbiosis and allow critical questions to be addressed at the genomic level based on combined aspects of evolutionary, developmental, metabolic, and environmental perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter C Dunlap
- Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3 Townsville MC, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio Starcevic
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Damir Baranasic
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Janko Diminic
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jurica Zucko
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ranko Gacesa
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Madeleine JH van Oppen
- Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3 Townsville MC, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daslav Hranueli
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - John Cullum
- Department of Genetics, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Paul F Long
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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Ramos-Silva P, Kaandorp J, Huisman L, Marie B, Zanella-Cléon I, Guichard N, Miller DJ, Marin F. The skeletal proteome of the coral Acropora millepora: the evolution of calcification by co-option and domain shuffling. Mol Biol Evol 2013; 30:2099-112. [PMID: 23765379 PMCID: PMC3748352 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mst109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In corals, biocalcification is a major function that may be drastically affected by ocean acidification (OA). Scleractinian corals grow by building up aragonitic exoskeletons that provide support and protection for soft tissues. Although this process has been extensively studied, the molecular basis of biocalcification is poorly understood. Notably lacking is a comprehensive catalog of the skeleton-occluded proteins—the skeletal organic matrix proteins (SOMPs) that are thought to regulate the mineral deposition. Using a combination of proteomics and transcriptomics, we report the first survey of such proteins in the staghorn coral Acropora millepora. The organic matrix (OM) extracted from the coral skeleton was analyzed by mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, enabling the identification of 36 SOMPs. These results provide novel insights into the molecular basis of coral calcification and the macroevolution of metazoan calcifying systems, whereas establishing a platform for studying the impact of OA at molecular level. Besides secreted proteins, extracellular regions of transmembrane proteins are also present, suggesting a close control of aragonite deposition by the calicoblastic epithelium. In addition to the expected SOMPs (Asp/Glu-rich, galaxins), the skeletal repertoire included several proteins containing known extracellular matrix domains. From an evolutionary perspective, the number of coral-specific proteins is low, many SOMPs having counterparts in the noncalcifying cnidarians. Extending the comparison with the skeletal OM proteomes of other metazoans allowed the identification of a pool of functional domains shared between phyla. These data suggest that co-option and domain shuffling may be general mechanisms by which the trait of calcification has evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ramos-Silva
- UMR 6282 CNRS, Biogéosciences, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
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Futahashi R, Tanaka K, Tanahashi M, Nikoh N, Kikuchi Y, Lee BL, Fukatsu T. Gene expression in gut symbiotic organ of stinkbug affected by extracellular bacterial symbiont. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64557. [PMID: 23691247 PMCID: PMC3653873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bean bug Riptortus pedestris possesses a specialized symbiotic organ in a posterior region of the midgut, where numerous crypts harbor extracellular betaproteobacterial symbionts of the genus Burkholderia. Second instar nymphs orally acquire the symbiont from the environment, and the symbiont infection benefits the host by facilitating growth and by occasionally conferring insecticide resistance. Here we performed comparative transcriptomic analyses of insect genes expressed in symbiotic and non-symbiotic regions of the midgut dissected from Burkholderia-infected and uninfected R. pedestris. Expression sequence tag analysis of cDNA libraries and quantitative reverse transcription PCR identified a number of insect genes expressed in symbiosis- or aposymbiosis-associated patterns. For example, genes up-regulated in symbiotic relative to aposymbiotic individuals, including many cysteine-rich secreted protein genes and many cathepsin protease genes, are likely to play a role in regulating the symbiosis. Conversely, genes up-regulated in aposymbiotic relative to symbiotic individuals, including a chicken-type lysozyme gene and a defensin-like protein gene, are possibly involved in regulation of non-symbiotic bacterial infections. Our study presents the first transcriptomic data on gut symbiotic organ of a stinkbug, which provides initial clues to understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the insect-bacterium gut symbiosis and sheds light on several intriguing commonalities between endocellular and extracellular symbiotic associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Futahashi
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Shigenobu S, Stern DL. Aphids evolved novel secreted proteins for symbiosis with bacterial endosymbiont. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20121952. [PMID: 23173201 PMCID: PMC3574423 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.1952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Aphids evolved novel cells, called bacteriocytes, that differentiate specifically to harbour the obligatory mutualistic endosymbiotic bacteria Buchnera aphidicola. The genome of the host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum contains many orphan genes that display no similarity with genes found in other sequenced organisms, prompting us to hypothesize that some of these orphan genes are related to lineage-specific traits, such as symbiosis. We conducted deep sequencing of bacteriocytes mRNA followed by whole mount in situ hybridizations of over-represented transcripts encoding aphid-specific orphan proteins. We identified a novel class of genes that encode small proteins with signal peptides, which are often cysteine-rich, that are over-represented in bacteriocytes. These genes are first expressed at a developmental time point coincident with the incorporation of symbionts strictly in the cells that contribute to the bacteriocyte and this bacteriocyte-specific expression is maintained throughout the aphid's life. The expression pattern suggests that recently evolved secretion proteins act within bacteriocytes, perhaps to mediate the symbiosis with beneficial bacterial partners, which is reminiscent of the evolution of novel cysteine-rich secreted proteins of leguminous plants that regulate nitrogen-fixing endosymbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuji Shigenobu
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
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Schwarz JA, Mitchelmore CL, Jones R, O'Dea A, Seymour S. Exposure to copper induces oxidative and stress responses and DNA damage in the coral Montastraea franksi. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 157:272-9. [PMID: 23268349 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Revised: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Copper is a common chemical contaminant in coastal environments, including coral reefs. Ecotoxicological studies have demonstrated that exposure to copper can cause stress and detrimental effects in both host cnidarian and algal symbionts. The objective of this study was to investigate the sublethal effects of copper on the reef-building coral Montastraea franksi, by identifying genes with altered expression in corals exposed to dissolved copper, and by measuring the extent of damage to DNA in response to copper exposure. Corals exposed to 30 μg L(-1) copper for 48 h experienced significant DNA damage and displayed changes in expression patterns of genes that are known to play role cellular and oxidative stress responses. Corals also experienced changes in gene expression of genes that are not already known to play roles in oxidative stress in corals. Our data suggest that these genes may either play roles directly in mediating a stress response, or may be genes acting downstream of the stress response. These include an ETS domain-containing transcription factor related to the ETS1 family of transcription factors, known in mammals to mediate development, disease, and stress response, and two genes that are associated with biomineralization: galaxin, a protein from the organic matrix of the coral skeleton, and a coral-specific gene SCRIP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Schwarz
- Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA.
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Proteomic analysis of skeletal organic matrix from the stony coral Stylophora pistillata. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:3788-93. [PMID: 23431140 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1301419110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been recognized that a suite of proteins exists in coral skeletons that is critical for the oriented precipitation of calcium carbonate crystals, yet these proteins remain poorly characterized. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of proteins extracted from the cell-free skeleton of the hermatypic coral, Stylophora pistillata, combined with a draft genome assembly from the cnidarian host cells of the same species, we identified 36 coral skeletal organic matrix proteins. The proteome of the coral skeleton contains an assemblage of adhesion and structural proteins as well as two highly acidic proteins that may constitute a unique coral skeletal organic matrix protein subfamily. We compared the 36 skeletal organic matrix protein sequences to genome and transcriptome data from three other corals, three additional invertebrates, one vertebrate, and three single-celled organisms. This work represents a unique extensive proteomic analysis of biomineralization-related proteins in corals from which we identify a biomineralization "toolkit," an organic scaffold upon which aragonite crystals can be deposited in specific orientations to form a phenotypically identifiable structure.
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Aranda M, DeSalvo MK, Bayer T, Medina M, Voolstra CR. Evolutionary insights into scleractinian corals using comparative genomic hybridizations. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:501. [PMID: 22994626 PMCID: PMC3469353 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coral reefs belong to the most ecologically and economically important ecosystems on our planet. Yet, they are under steady decline worldwide due to rising sea surface temperatures, disease, and pollution. Understanding the molecular impact of these stressors on different coral species is imperative in order to predict how coral populations will respond to this continued disturbance. The use of molecular tools such as microarrays has provided deep insight into the molecular stress response of corals. Here, we have performed comparative genomic hybridizations (CGH) with different coral species to an Acropora palmata microarray platform containing 13,546 cDNA clones in order to identify potentially rapidly evolving genes and to determine the suitability of existing microarray platforms for use in gene expression studies (via heterologous hybridization). Results Our results showed that the current microarray platform for A. palmata is able to provide biological relevant information for a wide variety of coral species covering both the complex clade as well the robust clade. Analysis of the fraction of highly diverged genes showed a significantly higher amount of genes without annotation corroborating previous findings that point towards a higher rate of divergence for taxonomically restricted genes. Among the genes with annotation, we found many mitochondrial genes to be highly diverged in M. faveolata when compared to A. palmata, while the majority of nuclear encoded genes maintained an average divergence rate. Conclusions The use of present microarray platforms for transcriptional analyses in different coral species will greatly enhance the understanding of the molecular basis of stress and health and highlight evolutionary differences between scleractinian coral species. On a genomic basis, we show that cDNA arrays can be used to identify patterns of divergence. Mitochondrion-encoded genes seem to have diverged faster than nuclear encoded genes in robust corals. Accordingly, this needs to be taken into account when using mitochondrial markers for scleractinian phylogenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Siboni N, Abrego D, Seneca F, Motti CA, Andreakis N, Tebben J, Blackall LL, Harder T. Using bacterial extract along with differential gene expression in Acropora millepora larvae to decouple the processes of attachment and metamorphosis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37774. [PMID: 22655067 PMCID: PMC3359992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/24/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms of the bacterium Pseudoalteromonas induce metamorphosis of acroporid coral larvae. The bacterial metabolite tetrabromopyrrole (TBP), isolated from an extract of Pseudoalteromonas sp. associated with the crustose coralline alga (CCA) Neogoniolithon fosliei, induced coral larval metamorphosis (100%) with little or no attachment (0–2%). To better understand the molecular events and mechanisms underpinning the induction of Acropora millepora larval metamorphosis, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, migration, adhesion and biomineralisation, two novel coral gene expression assays were implemented. These involved the use of reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and employed 47 genes of interest (GOI), selected based on putative roles in the processes of settlement and metamorphosis. Substantial differences in transcriptomic responses of GOI were detected following incubation of A. millepora larvae with a threshold concentration and 10-fold elevated concentration of TBP-containing extracts of Pseudoalteromonas sp. The notable and relatively abrupt changes of the larval body structure during metamorphosis correlated, at the molecular level, with significant differences (p<0.05) in gene expression profiles of 24 GOI, 12 hours post exposure. Fourteen of those GOI also presented differences in expression (p<0.05) following exposure to the threshold concentration of bacterial TBP-containing extract. The specificity of the bacterial TBP-containing extract to induce the metamorphic stage in A. millepora larvae without attachment, using a robust, low cost, accurate, ecologically relevant and highly reproducible RT-qPCR assay, allowed partially decoupling of the transcriptomic processes of attachment and metamorphosis. The bacterial TBP-containing extract provided a unique opportunity to monitor the regulation of genes exclusively involved in the process of metamorphosis, contrasting previous gene expression studies that utilized cues, such as crustose coralline algae, biofilms or with GLW-amide neuropeptides that stimulate the entire onset of larval metamorphosis and attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nachshon Siboni
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.
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MOYA A, HUISMAN L, BALL EE, HAYWARD DC, GRASSO LC, CHUA CM, WOO HN, GATTUSO JP, FORÊT S, MILLER DJ. Whole Transcriptome Analysis of the CoralAcropora milleporaReveals Complex Responses to CO2-driven Acidification during the Initiation of Calcification. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:2440-54. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05554.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Morgan MB, Parker CC, Robinson JW, Pierce EM. Using Representational Difference Analysis to detect changes in transcript expression of Aiptasia genes after laboratory exposure to lindane. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2012; 110-111:66-73. [PMID: 22281777 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2011] [Revised: 12/27/2011] [Accepted: 01/01/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Molecular stress responses to pesticide exposures represent an understudied area of cnidarian transcriptome investigations. The organochlorine pesticide lindane is known to disrupt normal neuron function. Cnidarians with simple nervous systems are recognized as sensitive indicators of water quality, yet nothing is known about cnidarian responses to lindane. Sea anemones (Aiptasia pallida) were exposed for 4h to lindane (20 μg/l). Because anemones have neurons and lindane is known to target neurons, it is anticipated that cnidarian stress responses will include changes in transcription of genes associated with neurons. Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) was utilized to isolate differentially transcribed genes in the anemones exposed to the pesticide. After two rounds of RDA hybridizations, 148 amplified fragments ranging in size from 150 to 800 bp were cloned. Sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of 106 clones revealed 56 different gene fragments. Virtual Northern dot blots were used as a preliminary screening tool to identify the most responsive RDA products. To further characterize the specificity of response, additional anemones were exposed to a series of lindane concentrations (0, 0.2, 2.0, 10, and 20 μg/l). Northern dot blots were subsequently used to develop expression profiles for selected RDA products over the range of pesticide concentrations. The seven most responsive RDA products represent genes with products associated with neuron development, immune responses, and Ca(2+) binding/transport. The resulting expression profiles illustrate that these RDA products exhibit various degrees of concentration specificity with some RDA products being significantly up-regulated at 20 μg/l while other RDA products are most responsive at concentrations <20 μg/l. Results also demonstrate how RDA can be used to identify potentially important biomarkers of organochlorine exposure while generating new hypotheses about important phenomena such as endocrine disruption in cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Morgan
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA.
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Rinkevich B. Neglected biological features in cnidarians self-nonself recognition. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 738:46-59. [PMID: 22399373 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-1680-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cnidarian taxa, currently of the most morphologically simplest extant metazoans, exhibit many salient properties of innate immunity that are shared by most Animalia. One hallmark constituent of immunity exhibit by most cnidarians is histocompatibility, marked by wide spectrum of allogeneic and xenogeneic effector arms, progressing into tissue fusions or inflammatory rejections. Scientific propensity on cnidarians immunity, while discussing historecognition as the ground for immunity in these organisms, concentrates on host-parasitic and disease oriented studies, or focuses on genome approaches that search for gene homologies with the vertebrates. Above tendency for mixing up between historecognition and host-parasitic/disease, highlights a serious obstacle for the progress in our understanding of cnidarian immunobiology. Here I critically overview four 'forgotten' cnidarian immune features, namely, specificity, immunological memory, allogeneic maturation and natural chimerism, presenting insights into perspectives that are prerequisite for any discussion on cnidarian evolution. It is evident that cnidarian historecognition embraces elements that the traditional field of vertebrate immunology has never encountered (i.e., variety of cytotoxic outcomes, different types of effector mechanisms, chimerism, etc.). Also, cnidarian immune features dictating that different individuals within the same species seem to respond differently to the same immunological challenge, is far from that recorded in the vertebrates' adaptive immunity. While above features may be connected to host-parasitic and disease phenomena and effector arms, they clearly attest to their unique critical roles in shaping cnidarians historecognition, calling for improved distinction between historecognition and host-response/ disease disciplines. The research on cnidarians immunity still suffers from the lack of accepted synthesis of what historecognition is or does. Mounting of an immune response against conspecifics or xenogeneic organisms should therefore be clearly demarcated from other paths of immunity, till cnidarian innate immunity as a whole is expounded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel-Shikmona, Haifa, Israel.
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Traylor-Knowles N, Granger BR, Lubinski TJ, Parikh JR, Garamszegi S, Xia Y, Marto JA, Kaufman L, Finnerty JR. Production of a reference transcriptome and transcriptomic database (PocilloporaBase) for the cauliflower coral, Pocillopora damicornis. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:585. [PMID: 22126435 PMCID: PMC3339375 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Motivated by the precarious state of the world's coral reefs, there is currently a keen interest in coral transcriptomics. By identifying changes in coral gene expression that are triggered by particular environmental stressors, we can begin to characterize coral stress responses at the molecular level, which should lead to the development of more powerful diagnostic tools for evaluating the health of corals in the field. Furthermore, the identification of genetic variants that are more or less resilient in the face of particular stressors will help us to develop more reliable prognoses for particular coral populations. Toward this end, we performed deep mRNA sequencing of the cauliflower coral, Pocillopora damicornis, a geographically widespread Indo-Pacific species that exhibits a great diversity of colony forms and is able to thrive in habitats subject to a wide range of human impacts. Importantly, P. damicornis is particularly amenable to laboratory culture. We collected specimens from three geographically isolated Hawaiian populations subjected to qualitatively different levels of human impact. We isolated RNA from colony fragments ("nubbins") exposed to four environmental stressors (heat, desiccation, peroxide, and hypo-saline conditions) or control conditions. The RNA was pooled and sequenced using the 454 platform. Description Both the raw reads (n = 1, 116, 551) and the assembled contigs (n = 70, 786; mean length = 836 nucleotides) were deposited in a new publicly available relational database called PocilloporaBase http://www.PocilloporaBase.org. Using BLASTX, 47.2% of the contigs were found to match a sequence in the NCBI database at an E-value threshold of ≤.001; 93.6% of those contigs with matches in the NCBI database appear to be of metazoan origin and 2.3% bacterial origin, while most of the remaining 4.1% match to other eukaryotes, including algae and amoebae. Conclusions P. damicornis now joins the handful of coral species for which extensive transcriptomic data are publicly available. Through PocilloporaBase http://www.PocilloporaBase.org, one can obtain assembled contigs and raw reads and query the data according to a wide assortment of attributes including taxonomic origin, PFAM motif, KEGG pathway, and GO annotation.
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Hayward DC, Hetherington S, Behm CA, Grasso LC, Forêt S, Miller DJ, Ball EE. Differential gene expression at coral settlement and metamorphosis--a subtractive hybridization study. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26411. [PMID: 22065994 PMCID: PMC3204972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A successful metamorphosis from a planktonic larva to a settled polyp, which under favorable conditions will establish a future colony, is critical for the survival of corals. However, in contrast to the situation in other animals, e.g., frogs and insects, little is known about the molecular basis of coral metamorphosis. We have begun to redress this situation with previous microarray studies, but there is still a great deal to learn. In the present paper we have utilized a different technology, subtractive hybridization, to characterize genes differentially expressed across this developmental transition and to compare the success of this method to microarray. Methodology/Principal Findings Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify two pools of transcripts from the coral, Acropora millepora. One is enriched for transcripts expressed at higher levels at the pre-settlement stage, and the other for transcripts expressed at higher levels at the post-settlement stage. Virtual northern blots were used to demonstrate the efficacy of the subtractive hybridization technique. Both pools contain transcripts coding for proteins in various functional classes but transcriptional regulatory proteins were represented more frequently in the post-settlement pool. Approximately 18% of the transcripts showed no significant similarity to any other sequence on the public databases. Transcripts of particular interest were further characterized by in situ hybridization, which showed that many are regulated spatially as well as temporally. Notably, many transcripts exhibit axially restricted expression patterns that correlate with the pool from which they were isolated. Several transcripts are expressed in patterns consistent with a role in calcification. Conclusions We have characterized over 200 transcripts that are differentially expressed between the planula larva and post-settlement polyp of the coral, Acropora millepora. Sequence, putative function, and in some cases temporal and spatial expression are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Hayward
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Suzannah Hetherington
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Carolyn A. Behm
- Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Lauretta C. Grasso
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David J. Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Eldon E. Ball
- Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Development of gene expression markers of acute heat-light stress in reef-building corals of the genus Porites. PLoS One 2011; 6:e26914. [PMID: 22046408 PMCID: PMC3202587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 10/06/2011] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to increased incidence of climate-induced coral bleaching, which will have widespread biodiversity and economic impacts. A simple method to measure the sub-bleaching level of heat-light stress experienced by corals would greatly inform reef management practices by making it possible to assess the distribution of bleaching risks among individual reef sites. Gene expression analysis based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine coral condition in situ. We evaluated the expression of 13 candidate genes during heat-light stress in a common Caribbean coral Porites astreoides, and observed strong and consistent changes in gene expression in two independent experiments. Furthermore, we found that the apparent return to baseline expression levels during a recovery phase was rapid, despite visible signs of colony bleaching. We show that the response to acute heat-light stress in P. astreoides can be monitored by measuring the difference in expression of only two genes: Hsp16 and actin. We demonstrate that this assay discriminates between corals sampled from two field sites experiencing different temperatures. We also show that the assay is applicable to an Indo-Pacific congener, P. lobata, and therefore could potentially be used to diagnose acute heat-light stress on coral reefs worldwide.
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MEYER E, AGLYAMOVA GV, MATZ MV. Profiling gene expression responses of coral larvae (Acropora millepora) to elevated temperature and settlement inducers using a novel RNA-Seq procedure. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:3599-616. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05205.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Rosic NN, Pernice M, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Hoegh-Guldberg O. Validation of housekeeping genes for gene expression studies in Symbiodinium exposed to thermal and light stress. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2011; 13:355-65. [PMID: 20668900 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-010-9308-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2009] [Accepted: 07/05/2010] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Unicellular photosynthetic algae (dinoflagellate) from the genus Symbiodinium live in mutualistic symbiosis with reef-building corals. Cultured Symbiodinium sp. (clade C) were exposed to a range of environmental stresses that included elevated temperatures (29°C and 32°C) under high (100 μmol quanta m(-2) s(-1) Photosynthetic Active Radiation) and low (10 μmol quanta m(-2) s(-1)) irradiances. Using real-time RT-PCR the stability of expression for the nine selected putative housekeeping genes (HKGs) was tested. The most stable expression pattern was identified for cyclophilin and S-adenosyl methionine synthetase (SAM) followed by S4 ribosomal protein (Rp-S4), Calmodulin (Cal), and Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (Cox), respectively. Thermal stress alone resulted in the highest expression stability for Rp-S4 and SAM, with a minimum of two reference genes required for data normalization. For Symbiodinium exposed to both, light and thermal stresses, at least five reference genes were recommended by geNorm analysis. In parallel, the expression of Hsp90 for Symbiodinium in culture and in symbiosis within coral host (Acropora millepora) was evaluated using the most stable HKGs. Our results revealed a drop in Hsp90 expression after an 18 h-period and a 24 h-period of exposure to elevated temperatures indicating the similar Hsp90 expression profile in symbiotic and non-symbiotic environments. This study provides the first list of the HKGs and will provide a useful reference in future gene expression studies in symbiotic dinoflagellates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nedeljka N Rosic
- Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, QLD, Australia.
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Voolstra CR, Sunagawa S, Matz MV, Bayer T, Aranda M, Buschiazzo E, DeSalvo MK, Lindquist E, Szmant AM, Coffroth MA, Medina M. Rapid evolution of coral proteins responsible for interaction with the environment. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20392. [PMID: 21633702 PMCID: PMC3102110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corals worldwide are in decline due to climate change effects (e.g., rising seawater temperatures), pollution, and exploitation. The ability of corals to cope with these stressors in the long run depends on the evolvability of the underlying genetic networks and proteins, which remain largely unknown. A genome-wide scan for positively selected genes between related coral species can help to narrow down the search space considerably. Methodology/Principal Findings We screened a set of 2,604 putative orthologs from EST-based sequence datasets of the coral species Acropora millepora and Acropora palmata to determine the fraction and identity of proteins that may experience adaptive evolution. 7% of the orthologs show elevated rates of evolution. Taxonomically-restricted (i.e. lineage-specific) genes show a positive selection signature more frequently than genes that are found across many animal phyla. The class of proteins that displayed elevated evolutionary rates was significantly enriched for proteins involved in immunity and defense, reproduction, and sensory perception. We also found elevated rates of evolution in several other functional groups such as management of membrane vesicles, transmembrane transport of ions and organic molecules, cell adhesion, and oxidative stress response. Proteins in these processes might be related to the endosymbiotic relationship corals maintain with dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Conclusion/Relevance This study provides a birds-eye view of the processes potentially underlying coral adaptation, which will serve as a foundation for future work to elucidate the rates, patterns, and mechanisms of corals' evolutionary response to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R. Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail: (CRV); (MM)
| | | | - Mikhail V. Matz
- Section of Integrative Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Till Bayer
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emmanuel Buschiazzo
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Michael K. DeSalvo
- Department of Anesthesia, UCSF School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Erika Lindquist
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California, United States of America
| | - Alina M. Szmant
- Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mary Alice Coffroth
- Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior and Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Mónica Medina
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CRV); (MM)
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The biology of coral metamorphosis: Molecular responses of larvae to inducers of settlement and metamorphosis. Dev Biol 2011; 353:411-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Revised: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Kozlov S, Grishin E. The mining of toxin-like polypeptides from EST database by single residue distribution analysis. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:88. [PMID: 21281459 PMCID: PMC3040730 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Novel high throughput sequencing technologies require permanent development of bioinformatics data processing methods. Among them, rapid and reliable identification of encoded proteins plays a pivotal role. To search for particular protein families, the amino acid sequence motifs suitable for selective screening of nucleotide sequence databases may be used. In this work, we suggest a novel method for simplified representation of protein amino acid sequences named Single Residue Distribution Analysis, which is applicable both for homology search and database screening. Results Using the procedure developed, a search for amino acid sequence motifs in sea anemone polypeptides was performed, and 14 different motifs with broad and low specificity were discriminated. The adequacy of motifs for mining toxin-like sequences was confirmed by their ability to identify 100% toxin-like anemone polypeptides in the reference polypeptide database. The employment of novel motifs for the search of polypeptide toxins in Anemonia viridis EST dataset allowed us to identify 89 putative toxin precursors. The translated and modified ESTs were scanned using a special algorithm. In addition to direct comparison with the motifs developed, the putative signal peptides were predicted and homology with known structures was examined. Conclusions The suggested method may be used to retrieve structures of interest from the EST databases using simple amino acid sequence motifs as templates. The efficiency of the procedure for directed search of polypeptides is higher than that of most currently used methods. Analysis of 39939 ESTs of sea anemone Anemonia viridis resulted in identification of five protein precursors of earlier described toxins, discovery of 43 novel polypeptide toxins, and prediction of 39 putative polypeptide toxin sequences. In addition, two precursors of novel peptides presumably displaying neuronal function were disclosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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Forêt S, Knack B, Houliston E, Momose T, Manuel M, Quéinnec E, Hayward DC, Ball EE, Miller DJ. New tricks with old genes: the genetic bases of novel cnidarian traits. Trends Genet 2010; 26:154-8. [PMID: 20129693 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2010.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2009] [Revised: 01/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent thought on genome evolution has focused on the creation of new genes and changes in regulatory mechanisms while ignoring the role of selective gene loss in shaping genomes. Using data from two cnidarians, the jellyfish Clytia and the coral Acropora, we examined the relative significance of new 'taxonomically restricted' genes and selectively retained ancestral genes in enabling the evolution of novel traits. Consistent with its more complex life-cycle, the proportion of novel genes identified in Clytia was higher than that in the 'polyp only' cnidarians Nematostella and Hydra, but each of these cnidarians has retained a proportion of ancestral genes not present in the other two. The ubiquity and near-stochastic nature of gene loss can explain the discord between patterns of gene distribution and taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
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Voolstra CR, Schnetzer J, Peshkin L, Randall CJ, Szmant AM, Medina M. Effects of temperature on gene expression in embryos of the coral Montastraea faveolata. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:627. [PMID: 20030803 PMCID: PMC2807443 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2009] [Accepted: 12/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coral reefs are expected to be severely impacted by rising seawater temperatures associated with climate change. This study used cDNA microarrays to investigate transcriptional effects of thermal stress in embryos of the coral Montastraea faveolata. Embryos were exposed to 27.5 degrees C, 29.0 degrees C, and 31.5 degrees C directly after fertilization. Differences in gene expression were measured after 12 and 48 hours. RESULTS Analysis of differentially expressed genes indicated that increased temperatures may lead to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and a structural reconfiguration of the cytoskeletal network. Metabolic processes were downregulated, and the action of histones and zinc finger-containing proteins may have played a role in the long-term regulation upon heat stress. CONCLUSIONS Embryos responded differently depending on exposure time and temperature level. Embryos showed expression of stress-related genes already at a temperature of 29.0 degrees C, but seemed to be able to counteract the initial response over time. By contrast, embryos at 31.5 degrees C displayed continuous expression of stress genes. The genes that played a role in the response to elevated temperatures consisted of both highly conserved and coral-specific genes. These genes might serve as a basis for research into coral-specific adaptations to stress responses and global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Voolstra
- 1Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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Gene expression microarray analysis encompassing metamorphosis and the onset of calcification in the scleractinian coral Montastraea faveolata. Mar Genomics 2009; 2:149-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2009.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2009] [Revised: 07/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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