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Poding LH, Jägers P, Herlitze S, Huhn M. Diversity and function of fluorescent molecules in marine animals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1391-1410. [PMID: 38468189 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescence in marine animals has mainly been studied in Cnidaria but is found in many different phyla such as Annelida, Crustacea, Mollusca, and Chordata. While many fluorescent proteins and molecules have been identified, very little information is available about the biological functions of fluorescence. In this review, we focus on describing the occurrence of fluorescence in marine animals and the behavioural and physiological functions of fluorescent molecules based on experimental approaches. These biological functions of fluorescence range from prey and symbiont attraction, photoprotection, photoenhancement, stress mitigation, mimicry, and aposematism to inter- and intraspecific communication. We provide a comprehensive list of marine taxa that utilise fluorescence, including demonstrated effects on behavioural or physiological responses. We describe the numerous known functions of fluorescence in anthozoans and their underlying molecular mechanisms. We also highlight that other marine taxa should be studied regarding the functions of fluorescence. We suggest that an increase in research effort in this field could contribute to understanding the capacity of marine animals to respond to negative effects of climate change, such as rising sea temperatures and increasing intensities of solar irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars H Poding
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
| | - Peter Jägers
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
| | - Stefan Herlitze
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
| | - Mareike Huhn
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, Germany
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2
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Shikina S, Yoshioka Y, Chiu YL, Uchida T, Chen E, Cheng YC, Lin TC, Chu YL, Kanda M, Kawamitsu M, Fujie M, Takeuchi T, Zayasu Y, Satoh N, Shinzato C. Genome and tissue-specific transcriptomes of the large-polyp coral, Fimbriaphyllia (Euphyllia) ancora: a recipe for a coral polyp. Commun Biol 2024; 7:899. [PMID: 39048698 PMCID: PMC11269664 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral polyps are composed of four tissues; however, their characteristics are largely unexplored. Here we report biological characteristics of tentacles (Te), mesenterial filaments (Me), body wall (Bo), and mouth with pharynx (MP), using comparative genomic, morpho-histological, and transcriptomic analyses of the large-polyp coral, Fimbriaphyllia ancora. A draft F. ancora genome assembly of 434 Mbp was created. Morpho-histological and transcriptomic characterization of the four tissues showed that they have distinct differences in structure, primary cellular composition, and transcriptional profiles. Tissue-specific, highly expressed genes (HEGs) of Te are related to biological defense, predation, and coral-algal symbiosis. Me expresses multiple digestive enzymes, whereas Bo expresses innate immunity and biomineralization-related molecules. Many receptors for neuropeptides and neurotransmitters are expressed in MP. This dataset and new insights into tissue functions will facilitate a deeper understanding of symbiotic biology, immunology, biomineralization, digestive biology, and neurobiology in corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Shikina
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
| | - Yuki Yoshioka
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yi-Ling Chiu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Taiga Uchida
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Emma Chen
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Chu Cheng
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chieh Lin
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Chu
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Miyuki Kanda
- DNA Sequencing Center Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Mayumi Kawamitsu
- DNA Sequencing Center Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Manabu Fujie
- DNA Sequencing Center Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Takeshi Takeuchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yuna Zayasu
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.
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Suzuki T, Casareto BE, Yucharoen M, Dohra H, Suzuki Y. Coexistence of nonfluorescent chromoproteins and fluorescent proteins in massive Porites spp. corals manifesting a pink pigmentation response. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1339907. [PMID: 38952870 PMCID: PMC11215327 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1339907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Several fluorescent proteins (FPs) and chromoproteins (CPs) are present in anthozoans and play possible roles in photoprotection. Coral tissues in massive corals often display discoloration accompanied by inflammation. Incidences of the pink pigmentation response (PPR) in massive Porites, described as inflammatory pink lesions of different shapes and sizes, has recently increased worldwide. FPs are reported to be present in PPR lesions, wherein a red fluorescent protein (RFP) appears to play a role in reducing reactive oxygen species. However, to date, the biochemical characterization and possible roles of the pigments involved are poorly understood. The present study aimed to identify and characterize the proteins responsible for pink discoloration in massive Porites colonies displaying PPRs, as well as to assess the differential distribution of pigments and the antioxidant properties of pigmented areas. Method CPs were extracted from PPR lesions using gel-filtration chromatography and identified via genetic analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The coexistence of CPs and RFP in coral tissues was assessed using microscopic observation. Photosynthetic antivity and hydrogen peroxide-scavenging activitiy were measured to assess coral stress conditions. Results The present study revealed that the same CP (plut2.m8.16902.m1) isolated from massive Porites was present in both the pink spot and patch morphologies of the PPR. CPs were also found to coexist with RFP in coral tissues that manifested a PPR, with a differential distribution (coenosarc or tip of polyps' tentacles). High hydrogen peroxide-scavenging rates were found in tissues affected by PPR. Discussion and Conclusion The coexistence of CPs and RFP suggests their possible differential role in coral immunity. CPs, which are specifically expressed in PPR lesions, may serve as an antioxidant in the affected coral tissue. Overall, this study provides new knowledge to our understanding of the role of CPs in coral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Japan
| | - Beatriz E. Casareto
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Japan
| | - Mathinee Yucharoen
- Faculty of Environmental Management, and Coastal Oceanography and Climate Change Research Center, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Hideo Dohra
- Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Japan
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4
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Clarke DN, Rose NH, De Meulenaere E, Rosental B, Pearse JS, Pearse VB, Deheyn DD. Fluorescent proteins generate a genetic color polymorphism and counteract oxidative stress in intertidal sea anemones. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317017121. [PMID: 38457522 PMCID: PMC10945830 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317017121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are ubiquitous tools in research, yet their endogenous functions in nature are poorly understood. In this work, we describe a combination of functions for FPs in a clade of intertidal sea anemones whose FPs control a genetic color polymorphism together with the ability to combat oxidative stress. Focusing on the underlying genetics of a fluorescent green "Neon" color morph, we show that allelic differences in a single FP gene generate its strong and vibrant color, by increasing both molecular brightness and FP gene expression level. Natural variation in FP sequences also produces differences in antioxidant capacity. We demonstrate that these FPs are strong antioxidants that can protect live cells against oxidative stress. Finally, based on structural modeling of the responsible amino acids, we propose a model for FP antioxidant function that is driven by molecular surface charge. Together, our findings shed light on the multifaceted functions that can co-occur within a single FP and provide a framework for studying the evolution of fluorescence as it balances spectral and physiological functions in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Nathaniel Clarke
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA93950
| | - Noah H. Rose
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA93950
| | - Evelien De Meulenaere
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Benyamin Rosental
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva84105, Israel
| | - John S. Pearse
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95060
| | - Vicki Buchsbaum Pearse
- Department of Biology, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA93950
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95060
| | - Dimitri D. Deheyn
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA92037
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Han T, Liao X, Guo Z, Chen JY, He C, Lu Z. Deciphering temporal gene expression dynamics in multiple coral species exposed to heat stress: Implications for predicting resilience. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169021. [PMID: 38061659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Coral reefs are facing unprecedented threats due to global climate change, particularly elevated sea surface temperatures causing coral bleaching. Understanding coral responses at the molecular level is crucial for predicting their resilience and developing effective conservation strategies. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive gene expression analysis of four coral species to investigate their long-term molecular response to heat stress. We identified distinct gene expression patterns among the coral species, with laminar corals exhibiting a stronger response compared to branching corals. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) showed an overall decreasing expression trend, indicating the high energy cost associated with sustaining elevated HSP levels during prolonged heat stress. Peroxidases and oxidoreductases involved in oxidative stress response demonstrated significant upregulation, highlighting their role in maintaining cellular redox balance. Differential expression of genes related to calcium homeostasis and bioluminescence suggested distinct mechanisms for coping with heat stress among the coral species. Furthermore, the impact of heat stress on coral biomineralization varied, with downregulation of carbonic anhydrase and skeletal organic matrix proteins indicating reduced capacity for biomineralization in the later stages of heat stress. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying coral responses to heat stress and highlight the importance of considering species-specific responses in assessing coral resilience. The identified biomarkers may serve as indicators of heat stress and contribute to early detection of coral bleaching events. These findings contribute to our understanding of coral resilience and provide a basis for future research aimed at enhancing coral survival in the face of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Xin Liao
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Zhuojun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - J-Y Chen
- Nanjing Institute of Paleontology and Geology, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Chunpeng He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
| | - Zuhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
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Petersen LE, Kellermann MY, Fiegel LJ, Nietzer S, Bickmeyer U, Abele D, Schupp PJ. Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3562. [PMID: 36864107 PMCID: PMC9981606 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30470-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The global degradation of coral reefs is steadily increasing with ongoing climate change. Yet coral larvae settlement, a key mechanism of coral population rejuvenation and recovery, is largely understudied. Here, we show how the lipophilic, settlement-inducing bacterial pigment cycloprodigiosin (CYPRO) is actively harvested and subsequently enriched along the ectoderm of larvae of the scleractinian coral Leptastrea purpura. A light-dependent reaction transforms the CYPRO molecules through photolytic decomposition and provides a constant supply of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leading to attachment on the substrate and metamorphosis into a coral recruit. Micromolar concentrations of H2O2 in seawater also resulted in rapid metamorphosis, but without prior larval attachment. We propose that the morphogen CYPRO is responsible for initiating attachment while simultaneously acting as a molecular generator for the comprehensive metamorphosis of pelagic larvae. Ultimately, our approach opens a novel mechanistic dimension to the study of chemical signaling in coral settlement and provides unprecedented insights into the role of infochemicals in cross-kingdom interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars-Erik Petersen
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Matthias Y Kellermann
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Laura J Fiegel
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Samuel Nietzer
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Ulf Bickmeyer
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Doris Abele
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Peter J Schupp
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
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7
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Ragon M, Bertheau L, Dumont J, Bellanger T, Grosselin M, Basu M, Pourcelot E, Horrigue W, Denimal E, Marin A, Vaucher B, Berland A, Lepoivre C, Dupont S, Beney L, Davey H, Guyot S. The Yin-Yang of the Green Fluorescent Protein: Impact on Saccharomyces cerevisiae stress resistance. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2023; 238:112603. [PMID: 36459911 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Although fluorescent proteins are widely used as biomarkers (Yin), no study focuses on their influence on the microbial stress response. Here, the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was fused to two proteins of interest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Pab1p and Sur7p, respectively involved in stress granules structure and in Can1 membrane domains. These were chosen since questions remain regarding the understanding of the behavior of S. cerevisiae facing different heat kinetics or oxidative stresses. The main results showed that Pab1p-GFP fluorescent mutant displayed a higher resistance than that of the wild type under a heat shock. Moreover, fluorescent mutants exposed to oxidative stresses displayed changes in the cultivability compared to the wild type strain. In silico approaches showed that the presence of the GFP did not influence the structure and so the functionality of the tagged proteins meaning that changes in yeast resistance were certainly related to GFP ROS-scavenging ability (Yang).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Ragon
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Lucie Bertheau
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Jennifer Dumont
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Tiffany Bellanger
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Marie Grosselin
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Mohini Basu
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Eléonore Pourcelot
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Walid Horrigue
- UMR Agroécologie Équipe Biocom, INRAE Dijon, Institut Agro, 26 Bd Dr Petitjean, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Emmanuel Denimal
- Institut Agro Dijon, Direction Scientifique, Appui à la Recherche, 26 Bd Dr Petitjean, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Ambroise Marin
- Plateau Technique d'IMagerie Spectroscopique (PIMS), DImaCell Platform Université de Bourgogne - INRAE, Dijon, France
| | - Basile Vaucher
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Antoine Berland
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Corentin Lepoivre
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Sébastien Dupont
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Laurent Beney
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France
| | - Hazel Davey
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Stéphane Guyot
- Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Institut Agro, PAM UMR A 02.102, F-21000 Dijon, France.
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8
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Lewis BM, Suggett DS, Prentis PJ, Nothdurft LD. Cellular adaptations leading to coral fragment attachment on artificial substrates in Acropora millepora (Am-CAM). Sci Rep 2022; 12:18431. [PMID: 36319668 PMCID: PMC9626494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23134-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive propagation by asexual fragmentation in the reef-building coral Acropora millepora depends on (1) successful attachment to the reef substrate through modification of soft tissues and (2) a permanent bond with skeletal encrustation. Despite decades of research examining asexual propagation in corals, the initial response, cellular reorganisation, and development leading to fragment substrate attachment via a newly formed skeleton has not been documented in its entirety. Here, we establish the first "coral attachment model" for this species ("Am-CAM") by developing novel methods that allow correlation of fluorescence and electron microscopy image data with in vivo microscopic time-lapse imagery. This multi-scale imaging approach identified three distinct phases involved in asexual propagation: (1) the contact response of the coral fragment when contact with the substrate, followed by (2) fragment stabilisation through anchoring by the soft tissue, and (3) formation of a "lappet-like appendage" structure leading to substrate bonding of the tissue for encrustation through the onset of skeletal calcification. In developing Am-CAM, we provide new biological insights that can enable reef researchers, managers and coral restoration practitioners to begin evaluating attachment effectiveness, which is needed to optimise species-substrate compatibility and achieve effective outplanting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M. Lewis
- grid.1024.70000000089150953School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - David S. Suggett
- grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Peter J. Prentis
- grid.1024.70000000089150953Centre for Agriculture and Bioeconomy and School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Luke D. Nothdurft
- grid.1024.70000000089150953School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia
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9
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Ben-Zvi O, Lindemann Y, Eyal G, Loya Y. Coral fluorescence: a prey-lure in deep habitats. Commun Biol 2022; 5:537. [PMID: 35654953 PMCID: PMC9163160 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03460-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractFluorescence is highly prevalent in reef-building corals, nevertheless its biological role is still under ongoing debate. This feature of corals was previously suggested to primarily screen harmful radiation or facilitate coral photosynthesis. In mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30-150 m depth) corals experience a limited, blue-shifted light environment. Consequently, in contrast to their shallow conspecifics, they might not be able to rely on photosynthates from their photosymbionts as their main energy source. Here, we experimentally test an alternative hypothesis for coral fluorescence: a prey-lure mechanism for plankton. We show that plankton exhibit preferential swimming towards green fluorescent cues and that compared to other morphs, higher predation rates are recorded in a green fluorescing morph of the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa. The evidence provided here - that plankton are actively attracted to fluorescent signals - indicates the significant role of fluorescence in amplifying the nutritional sink adjacent to coral reefs.
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10
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Schlecker L, Page C, Matz M, Wright RM. Mechanisms and potential immune tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13158. [PMID: 35368334 PMCID: PMC8973463 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfragmentation is the act of cutting corals into small pieces (~1 cm2) to accelerate the growth rates of corals relative to growth rates observed when maintaining larger-sized fragments. This rapid tissue and skeletal expansion technique offers great potential for supporting reef restoration, yet the biological processes and tradeoffs involved in microfragmentation-mediated accelerated growth are not well understood. Here we compared growth rates across a range of successively smaller fragment sizes in multiple genets of reef-building corals, Orbicella faveolata and Montastraea cavernosa. Our results confirm prior findings that smaller initial sizes confer accelerated growth after four months of recovery in a raceway. O. faveolata transcript levels associated with growth rate include genes encoding carbonic anhydrase and glutamic acid-rich proteins, which have been previously implicated in coral biomineralization, as well as a number of unannotated transcripts that warrant further characterization. Innate immunity enzyme activity assays and gene expression results suggest a potential tradeoff between growth rate after microfragmentation and immune investment. Microfragmentation-based restoration practices have had great success on Caribbean reefs, despite widespread mortality among wild corals due to infectious diseases. Future studies should continue to examine potential immune tradeoffs throughout the microfragmentation recovery period that may affect growout survival and disease transmission after outplanting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mikhail Matz
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Rachel M. Wright
- Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States
- University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
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11
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Shinzato C, Takeuchi T, Yoshioka Y, Tada I, Kanda M, Broussard C, Iguchi A, Kusakabe M, Marin F, Satoh N, Inoue M. Whole-Genome Sequencing Highlights Conservative Genomic Strategies of a Stress-Tolerant, Long-Lived Scleractinian Coral, Porites australiensis Vaughan, 1918. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6456307. [PMID: 34878117 PMCID: PMC8691061 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Massive corals of the genus Porites, common, keystone reef builders in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, are distinguished by their relative stress tolerance and longevity. In order to identify genetic bases of these attributes, we sequenced the complete genome of a massive coral, Porites australiensis. We developed a genome assembly and gene models of comparable quality to those of other coral genomes. Proteome analysis identified 60 Porites skeletal matrix protein genes, all of which show significant similarities to genes from other corals and even to those from a sea anemone, which has no skeleton. Nonetheless, 30% of its skeletal matrix proteins were unique to Porites and were not present in the skeletons of other corals. Comparative genomic analyses showed that genes widely conserved among other organisms are selectively expanded in Porites. Specifically, comparisons of transcriptomic responses of P. australiensis and Acropora digitifera, a stress-sensitive coral, reveal significant differences in regard to genes that respond to increased water temperature, and some of the genes expanded exclusively in Porites may account for the different thermal tolerances of these corals. Taken together, widely shared genes may have given rise to unique biological characteristics of Porites, massive skeletons and stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takeshi Takeuchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yuki Yoshioka
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ipputa Tada
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Miyuki Kanda
- DNA Sequencing Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | - Akira Iguchi
- Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Frédéric Marin
- Biogéosciences, Bâtiment des Sciences Gabriel, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Mayuri Inoue
- Division of Earth Science, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Japan
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12
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Thummasan M, Casareto BE, Ramphul C, Suzuki T, Toyoda K, Suzuki Y. Physiological responses (Hsps 60 and 32, caspase 3, H 2O 2 scavenging, and photosynthetic activity) of the coral Pocillopora damicornis under thermal and high nitrate stresses. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112737. [PMID: 34298325 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the physiological responses of the coral Pocillopora damicornis to high nitrate concentrations and thermal stresses. The expression of heat shock proteins Hsp60 and Hsp32, Symbiodiniaceae density, Chl a concentration, Fv/Fm, H2O2 scavenging, and caspase 3 activity varied during 60 h incubations at 28 °C or 32 °C, ambient or high nitrate (~10 μM) concentrations, and their combinations. In combined stresses, corals showed a rapid and high oxidation level negatively affecting the Symbiodiniaceae density and Chl a concentration at 12 h, followed by caspase 3 and Hsps upregulations that induced apoptosis, bleaching and tissue detachment. Corals under thermal stress showed the highest oxidation and upregulation of Hsps and caspase 3 resulting in coral discoloration. High nitrate treatment alone did not seriously affect the coral function. Results showed that combined stress treatment severely affected coral physiology and, judging from the condition of detached tissues, these corals might have lower chances to recover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montaphat Thummasan
- Environmental and Energy System, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Beatriz Estela Casareto
- Environmental and Energy System, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Chitra Ramphul
- Environmental and Energy System, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Suzuki
- Environmental and Energy System, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Keita Toyoda
- Environmental and Energy System, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Yoshimi Suzuki
- Environmental and Energy System, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
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13
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Hazraty-Kari S, Tavakoli-Kolour P, Das RR, Farhadi M, Barkhordari-Ahmadi A, Yahyavi M, Rezai H. Baseline assessment of coral diseases in an environmentally extreme environment of the northern Persian Gulf. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 171:112707. [PMID: 34246931 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The coral diseases are recognized as serious threats to coral reef ecosystems and a major contributor to the reduction of zooxanthellate scleractinian populations worldwide. Quantitative disease surveys can provide important information on the status and trends of coral reef health over the time. In this study, coral disease surveys were carried out during August 2014 and 2015 at designated sites located in the northern Persian Gulf. Seven different diseases affecting eight scleractinian genera were documented: Black Band Disease (BBD), Skeletal Growth Anomaly (SGA), Arabian Yellow Band Disease (AYBD), White Mat Disease (WMD), White Syndrome (WS), Porites Pink Spot (PPS), and Porites Bleached Patches (PBP). Additionally, it should be noted that this is the first report of SGA in Acropora sp. found in the Persian Gulf. The results of this study generated a baseline dataset of various related diseases in the northern Persian Gulf which can be utilized for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Hazraty-Kari
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
| | - Parviz Tavakoli-Kolour
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
| | - Rocktim Ramen Das
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Mina Farhadi
- Faculty of Marine Biology, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
| | | | - Maziar Yahyavi
- Department of Fisheries, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar abbas, Iran
| | - Hamid Rezai
- Darya Negar Pars Consulting Engineers, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Krasowska J, Pierzchała K, Bzowska A, Forró L, Sienkiewicz A, Wielgus-Kutrowska B. Chromophore of an Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Can Play a Photoprotective Role Due to Photobleaching. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168565. [PMID: 34445269 PMCID: PMC8395242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Under stress conditions, elevated levels of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) may impair crucial cellular structures. To counteract the resulting oxidative damage, living cells are equipped with several defense mechanisms, including photoprotective functions of specific proteins. Here, we discuss the plausible ROS scavenging mechanisms by the enhanced green fluorescent protein, EGFP. To check if this protein could fulfill a photoprotective function, we employed electron spin resonance (ESR) in combination with spin-trapping. Two organic photosensitizers, rose bengal and methylene blue, as well as an inorganic photocatalyst, nano-TiO2, were used to photogenerate ROS. Spin-traps, TMP-OH and DMPO, and a nitroxide radical, TEMPOL, served as molecular targets for ROS. Our results show that EGFP quenches various forms of ROS, including superoxide radicals and singlet oxygen. Compared to the three proteins PNP, papain, and BSA, EGFP revealed high ROS quenching ability, which suggests its photoprotective role in living systems. Damage to the EGFP chromophore was also observed under strong photo-oxidative conditions. This study contributes to the discussion on the protective function of fluorescent proteins homologous to the green fluorescent protein (GFP). It also draws attention to the possible interactions of GFP-like proteins with ROS in systems where such proteins are used as biological markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Krasowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Katarzyna Pierzchała
- Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (LIFMET), Institute of Physics (IPHYS), School of Basic Sciences (SB), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
- Laboratory of Physics of Complex Matter (LPMC), Institute of Physics (IPHYS), School of Basic Sciences (SB), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Agnieszka Bzowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.B.)
| | - László Forró
- Laboratory of Physics of Complex Matter (LPMC), Institute of Physics (IPHYS), School of Basic Sciences (SB), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Andrzej Sienkiewicz
- Laboratory of Physics of Complex Matter (LPMC), Institute of Physics (IPHYS), School of Basic Sciences (SB), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
- Laboratory for Quantum Magnetism (LQM), Institute of Physics (IPHYS), School of Basic Sciences (SB), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 3, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- ADSresonances, Route de Genève 60B, CH-1028 Préverenges, Switzerland
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (B.W.-K.)
| | - Beata Wielgus-Kutrowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (J.K.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (B.W.-K.)
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15
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Snyder GA, Eliachar S, Connelly MT, Talice S, Hadad U, Gershoni-Yahalom O, Browne WE, Palmer CV, Rosental B, Traylor-Knowles N. Functional Characterization of Hexacorallia Phagocytic Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:662803. [PMID: 34381444 PMCID: PMC8350327 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.662803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is the cellular defense mechanism used to eliminate antigens derived from dysregulated or damaged cells, and microbial pathogens. Phagocytosis is therefore a pillar of innate immunity, whereby foreign particles are engulfed and degraded in lysolitic vesicles. In hexacorallians, phagocytic mechanisms are poorly understood, though putative anthozoan phagocytic cells (amoebocytes) have been identified histologically. We identify and characterize phagocytes from the coral Pocillopora damicornis and the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and microscopy, we show that distinct populations of phagocytic cells engulf bacteria, fungal antigens, and beads. In addition to pathogenic antigens, we show that phagocytic cells engulf self, damaged cells. We show that target antigens localize to low pH phagolysosomes, and that degradation is occurring within them. Inhibiting actin filament rearrangement interferes with efficient particle phagocytosis but does not affect small molecule pinocytosis. We also demonstrate that cellular markers for lysolitic vesicles and reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlate with hexacorallian phagocytes. These results establish a foundation for improving our understanding of hexacorallian immune cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Snyder
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shir Eliachar
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Michael T Connelly
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shani Talice
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Uzi Hadad
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Orly Gershoni-Yahalom
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - William E Browne
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Caroline V Palmer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Benyamin Rosental
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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16
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Augustine G, Aarthy M, Thiagarajan H, Selvaraj S, Kamini NR, Shanmugam G, Ayyadurai N. Self-Assembly and Mechanical Properties of Engineered Protein Based Multifunctional Nanofiber for Accelerated Wound Healing. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001832. [PMID: 33480482 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present work reports a new route for preparing tunable multifunctional biomaterials through the combination of synthetic biology and material chemistry. Genetically encoded catechol moiety is evolved in a nanofiber mat with defined surface and secondary reactive functional chemistry, which promotes self-assembly and wet adhesion property of the protein. The catechol moiety is further exploited for the controlled release of boric acid that provides a congenial cellular microenvironment for accelerated wound healing. The presence of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine in the nanofiber mat act as a stimulus to trigger cell proliferation, migration, and vascularization to accelerate wound healing. Electron paramagnetic resonance, NMR, FTIR, and circular dichroism spectroscopy confirm the structural integrity, antioxidant property, and controlled release of boric acid. Fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy reveals the 3D architecture of nanofiber mat, which favors fibroblast growth, endothelial cell attachment, and tube formation, which are the desirable properties of a wound-healing material. Animal studies in the murine wound healing model assert that the multifunctional biomaterial significantly improve re-epithelialization and accelerate wound closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Augustine
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Chennai 600020 India
| | - Mayilvahanan Aarthy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Chennai 600020 India
| | - Hemalatha Thiagarajan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Chennai 600020 India
| | - Sowmya Selvaraj
- Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—Central Leather Research Institute Adyar Chennai 600020 India
| | - Numbi Ramdu Kamini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Chennai 600020 India
| | - Ganesh Shanmugam
- Department of Organic and Bioorganic chemistry Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Chennai 600020 India
| | - Niraikulam Ayyadurai
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)—Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Chennai 600020 India
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17
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Ramírez-Lugo JS, Toledo-Hernández C, Vélez-González I, Ruiz-Diaz CP. CREARE: A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience To Study the Responses of the Endangered Coral Acropora cervicornis to a Changing Environment. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOLOGY EDUCATION 2021; 22:jmbe-22-68. [PMID: 33953818 PMCID: PMC8060141 DOI: 10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2253c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There is mounting evidence to support that students who participate in scientific research experiences are more likely to continue on to advanced degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To introduce more students to the benefits of research, we have drawn on an ongoing project aimed at understanding how the Caribbean staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis responds to environmental fluctuations to develop a semester-long course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), entitled CREARE (Coral Response to Environment Authentic Research Experience). The main mode of instruction in CREARE is through topic modules, and course evaluation is achieved through writing assignments. Students in CREARE perform experiments in the laboratory to measure the abundance of photo-protective proteins in coral tissue from samples collected at different depths and at different times of the year and analyze environmental data using the R programming language. CREARE participants have contributed to the progress of the research project by generating novel data and making improvements to experimental protocols. Furthermore, pre- and post-course assessment of content knowledge revealed that students perform significantly better on a written exam after participating in CREARE, while also displaying appreciable shifts in attitudes towards science in student perception surveys. In addition, through qualitative analysis of focus group interviews, we gathered evidence to suggest that mediating variables that predict students' persistence in science are bolstered through our application of the CURE modality. Overall, CREARE can serve as a model for developing more research-based courses that successfully engage students in scientific research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan S. Ramírez-Lugo
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Ivonne Vélez-González
- Department of Graduate Studies, School of Education, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Claudia P. Ruiz-Diaz
- Sociedad Ambiente Marino, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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18
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Kashimoto R, Hisata K, Shinzato C, Satoh N, Shoguchi E. Expansion and Diversification of Fluorescent Protein Genes in Fifteen Acropora Species during the Evolution of Acroporid Corals. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030397. [PMID: 33799612 PMCID: PMC8001845 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to a purple, non-fluorescent chromoprotein (ChrP), fluorescent proteins (FPs) account for the vivid colors of corals, which occur in green (GFP), cyan (CFP), and red (RFP) FPs. To understand the evolution of the coral FP gene family, we examined the genomes of 15 Acropora species and three confamilial taxa. This genome-wide survey identified 219 FP genes. Molecular phylogeny revealed that the 15 Acropora species each have 9–18 FP genes, whereas the other acroporids examined have only two, suggesting a pronounced expansion of the FP genes in the genus Acropora. The data estimates of FP gene duplication suggest that the last common ancestor of the Acropora species that survived in the period of high sea surface temperature (Paleogene period) has already gained 16 FP genes. Different evolutionary histories of lineage-specific duplication and loss were discovered among GFP/CFPs, RFPs, and ChrPs. Synteny analysis revealed core GFP/CFP, RFP, and ChrP gene clusters, in which a tandem duplication of the FP genes was evident. The expansion and diversification of Acropora FPs may have contributed to the present-day richness of this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rio Kashimoto
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; (K.H.); (N.S.); (E.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kanako Hisata
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; (K.H.); (N.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan;
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; (K.H.); (N.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; (K.H.); (N.S.); (E.S.)
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19
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Wong YH, Zhang Y, Lun JCY, Qiu JW. A proteomic analysis of skeletal tissue anomaly in the brain coral Platygyra carnosa. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:111982. [PMID: 33517085 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.111982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Coral skeletal growth anomaly (GA) is a common coral disease. It has been considered as a pathological condition comparable to abnormal tissue growth in mammals, but little is known about the molecular changes underlying coral GA. To investigate the molecular pathology of GA, we compared the proteome between normal and GA-affected tissues of the brain coral Platygyra carnosa using iTRAQ-labeling and LC-MS/MS, which quantified 818 proteins and identified 117 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). GO analyses revealed DEPs that might be related to GA included "translational elongation", "proteasome core complex", "amine metabolic processes" and "lysosome". Several proteins implicated in calcification and fluorescence were differentially expressed at both protein and mRNA level. Protein-protein interaction network suggested possible involvement of TNF receptor signaling in GA. Overall, our results provided novel insights into the molecular pathology of coral GA, which will pave the way for determination of the causative agent(s) of this coral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Him Wong
- Institute for Advance Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China.
| | - Janice C Y Lun
- Agriculture, Fishery and Conservation Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China.
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20
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Sun Y, Jiang L, Gong S, Guo M, Yuan X, Zhou G, Lei X, Zhang Y, Yuan T, Lian J, Qian P, Huang H. Impact of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Symbiosis Establishment and Gene Expression Profiles in Recruits of Reef Coral Acropora intermedia. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:532447. [PMID: 33117302 PMCID: PMC7561415 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.532447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The onset of symbiosis and the early development of most broadcast spawning corals play pivotal roles in recruitment success, yet these critical early stages are threatened by multiple stressors. However, molecular mechanisms governing these critical processes under ocean warming and acidification are still poorly understood. The present study investigated the interactive impact of elevated temperature (∼28.0°C and ∼30.5°C) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (∼600 and ∼1,200 μatm) on early development and the gene expression patterns in juvenile Acropora intermedia over 33 days. The results showed that coral survival was >89% and was unaffected by high temperature, pCO2, or the combined treatment. Notably, high temperature completely arrested successful symbiosis establishment and the budding process, whereas acidification had a negligible effect. Moreover, there was a positive exponential relationship between symbiosis establishment and budding rates (y = 0.0004e6.43x, R = 0.72, P < 0.0001), which indicated the importance of symbiosis in fueling asexual budding. Compared with corals at the control temperature (28°C), those under elevated temperature preferentially harbored Durusdinium spp., despite unsuccessful symbiosis establishment. In addition, compared to the control, 351 and 153 differentially expressed genes were detected in the symbiont and coral host in response to experimental conditions, respectively. In coral host, some genes involved in nutrient transportation and tissue fluorescence were affected by high temperature. In the symbionts, a suite of genes related to cell growth, ribosomal proteins, photosynthesis, and energy production was downregulated under high temperatures, which may have severely hampered successful cell proliferation of the endosymbionts and explains the failure of symbiosis establishment. Therefore, our results suggest that the responses of symbionts to future ocean conditions could play a vital role in shaping successful symbiosis in juvenile coral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youfang Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sanqiang Gong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China
| | - Minglan Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangcheng Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guowei Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinming Lei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiansheng Lian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiyuan Qian
- CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hui Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Sanya, China.,CAS-HKUST Sanya Joint Laboratory of Marine Science Research and Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province, Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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21
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Chiu YL, Shikina S, Yoshioka Y, Shinzato C, Chang CF. De novo transcriptome assembly from the gonads of a scleractinian coral, Euphyllia ancora: molecular mechanisms underlying scleractinian gametogenesis. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:732. [PMID: 33087060 PMCID: PMC7579821 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07113-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual reproduction of scleractinians has captured the attention of researchers and the general public for decades. Although extensive ecological data has been acquired, underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, to better understand mechanisms underlying gametogenesis, we isolated ovaries and testes at different developmental phases from a gonochoric coral, Euphyllia ancora, and adopted a transcriptomic approach to reveal sex- and phase-specific gene expression profiles. In particular, we explored genes associated with oocyte development and maturation, spermiogenesis, sperm motility / capacitation, and fertilization. RESULTS 1.6 billion raw reads were obtained from 24 gonadal samples. De novo assembly of trimmed reads, and elimination of contigs derived from symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) and other organisms yielded a reference E. ancora gonadal transcriptome of 35,802 contigs. Analysis of 4 developmental phases identified 2023 genes that were differentially expressed during oogenesis and 678 during spermatogenesis. In premature/mature ovaries, 631 genes were specifically upregulated, with 538 in mature testes. Upregulated genes included those involved in gametogenesis, gamete maturation, sperm motility / capacitation, and fertilization in other metazoans, including humans. Meanwhile, a large number of genes without homology to sequences in the SWISS-PROT database were also observed among upregulated genes in premature / mature ovaries and mature testes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that scleractinian gametogenesis shares many molecular characteristics with that of other metazoans, but it also possesses unique characteristics developed during cnidarian and/or scleractinian evolution. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to create a gonadal transcriptome assembly from any scleractinian. This study and associated datasets provide a foundation for future studies regarding gametogenesis and differences between male and female colonies from molecular and cellular perspectives. Furthermore, our transcriptome assembly will be a useful reference for future development of sex-specific and/or stage-specific germ cell markers that can be used in coral aquaculture and ecological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ling Chiu
- Doctoral Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.,Doctoral Program in Marine Biotechnology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shinya Shikina
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan. .,Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Pei-Ning Rd, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.
| | - Yuki Yoshioka
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan.
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Pei-Ning Rd, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan. .,Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
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22
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Parisi MG, Parrinello D, Stabili L, Cammarata M. Cnidarian Immunity and the Repertoire of Defense Mechanisms in Anthozoans. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E283. [PMID: 32932829 PMCID: PMC7563517 DOI: 10.3390/biology9090283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Anthozoa is the most specious class of the phylum Cnidaria that is phylogenetically basal within the Metazoa. It is an interesting group for studying the evolution of mutualisms and immunity, for despite their morphological simplicity, Anthozoans are unexpectedly immunologically complex, with large genomes and gene families similar to those of the Bilateria. Evidence indicates that the Anthozoan innate immune system is not only involved in the disruption of harmful microorganisms, but is also crucial in structuring tissue-associated microbial communities that are essential components of the cnidarian holobiont and useful to the animal's health for several functions including metabolism, immune defense, development, and behavior. Here, we report on the current state of the art of Anthozoan immunity. Like other invertebrates, Anthozoans possess immune mechanisms based on self/non-self-recognition. Although lacking adaptive immunity, they use a diverse repertoire of immune receptor signaling pathways (PRRs) to recognize a broad array of conserved microorganism-associated molecular patterns (MAMP). The intracellular signaling cascades lead to gene transcription up to endpoints of release of molecules that kill the pathogens, defend the self by maintaining homeostasis, and modulate the wound repair process. The cells play a fundamental role in immunity, as they display phagocytic activities and secrete mucus, which acts as a physicochemical barrier preventing or slowing down the proliferation of potential invaders. Finally, we describe the current state of knowledge of some immune effectors in Anthozoan species, including the potential role of toxins and the inflammatory response in the Mediterranean Anthozoan Anemonia viridis following injection of various foreign particles differing in type and dimensions, including pathogenetic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Parisi
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Daniela Parrinello
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Loredana Stabili
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Matteo Cammarata
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
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23
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Sangmanee K, Casareto BE, Nguyen TD, Sangsawang L, Toyoda K, Suzuki T, Suzuki Y. Influence of thermal stress and bleaching on heterotrophic feeding of two scleractinian corals on pico-nanoplankton. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 158:111405. [PMID: 32753190 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The feeding strategies of Montipora digitata and Porites lutea, two dominant corals in the Okinawan reefs, were investigated. The focus was on pico- and nanoplankton feeding efficiencies, using 6-h incubations. Although healthy M. digitata consumed from 72% to 87% more pico-nanoplankton cells than P. lutea, feeding rates of bleached corals of both species were similarly low at heat stress (33 °C). Heterotrophic carbon acquisition with respect to dark respiration varied from 3% to 65% in M. digitata and from 7% to 68% in P. lutea. A decrease in the feeding efficiency of bleached M. digitata under heat stress shows its vulnerability to water heating events. Feeding rates of P. lutea were low under all conditions and treatments; therefore, this species is less vulnerable to heat stress due to the strategy of meeting metabolic costs by using translocated organic matter from endoliths and selecting pico-nanoplankton cells with a high C/N ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwara Sangmanee
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Marine Biodiversity Research Group, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok 10240, Thailand
| | - Beatriz E Casareto
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - The Duc Nguyen
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Institute of Marine Environment and Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet St., Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Laddawan Sangsawang
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center, the Eastern Gulf of Thailand, Rayong Province 21170, Thailand
| | - Keita Toyoda
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Toshiyuki Suzuki
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Yoshimi Suzuki
- Environment and Energy Systems, Graduate Schools of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
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24
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Rapid counting and spectral sorting of live coral larvae using large-particle flow cytometry. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12919. [PMID: 32737431 PMCID: PMC7395729 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69491-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Research with coral embryos and larvae often requires laborious manual counting and sorting of individual specimens, usually via microscopy. Because many coral species spawn only once per year during a narrow temporal window, sample processing is a time-limiting step for research on the early life-history stages of corals. Flow cytometry, an automated technique for measuring and sorting particles, cells, and cell-clusters, is a potential solution to this bottleneck. Yet most flow cytometers do not accommodate live organisms of the size of most coral embryos (> 250 µm), and sample processing is often destructive. Here we tested the ability of a large-particle flow cytometer with a gentle pneumatic sorting mechanism to process and spectrally sort live and preserved Montipora capitata coral embryos and larvae. Average survival rates of mechanically-sorted larvae were over 90% and were comparable to those achieved by careful hand-sorting. Preserved eggs and embryos remained intact throughout the sorting process and were successfully sorted based on real-time size and fluorescence detection. In-line bright-field microscopy images were captured for each sample object as it passed through the flow-cell, enabling the identification of early-stage embryos (2-cell to morula stage). Samples were counted and sorted at an average rate of 4 s larva−1 and as high as 0.2 s larva−1 for high-density samples. Results presented here suggest that large-particle flow cytometry has the potential to significantly increase efficiency and accuracy of data collection and sample processing during time-limited coral spawning events, facilitating larger-scale and higher-replication studies with an expanded number of species.
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25
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Fuess LE, Butler CC, Brandt ME, Mydlarz LD. Investigating the roles of transforming growth factor-beta in immune response of Orbicella faveolata, a scleractinian coral. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 107:103639. [PMID: 32027869 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic relationships range from parasitic to mutualistic, yet all endosymbionts face similar challenges, including evasion of host immunity. Many symbiotic organisms have evolved similar mechanisms to face these challenges, including manipulation of the host's transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) pathway. Here we investigate the TGFβ pathway in scelaractinian corals which are dependent on symbioses with dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae. Using the Caribbean coral, Orbicella faveolata, we explore the effects of enhancement and inhibition of the TGFβ pathway on host gene expression. Following transcriptomic analyses, we demonstrated limited effects of pathway manipulation in absence of immune stimulation. However, manipulation of the TGFβ pathway significantly affects the subsequent ability of host corals to mount an immune response. Enhancement of the TGFβ pathway eliminates transcriptomic signatures of host coral immune response, while inhibition of the pathway maintains the response. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence of an immunomodulatory role for TGFβ in a scelaractinian coral. These findings suggest variation in TGFβ signaling may have implications in the face of increasing disease prevelance. Our results suggest that the TGFβ pathway can modulate tradeoffs between symbiosis and immunity. Further study of links between symbiosis, TGFβ, and immunity is needed to better understand the ecological implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.
| | - Caleb C Butler
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Marilyn E Brandt
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI, United States
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
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26
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Bridges MC, Woodley CM, Peters EC, May LA, Galloway SB. Expression and Characterization of a Bright Far-red Fluorescent Protein from the Pink-Pigmented Tissues of Porites lobata. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 22:67-80. [PMID: 31853751 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-019-09931-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Members of the anthozoan green fluorescent protein (GFP) family display a diversity of photo-physical properties that can be associated with normal and damaged coral tissues. Poritid coral species often exhibit localized pink pigmentation in diseased or damaged tissues. Our spectral and histological analyses of pink-pigmented Porites lobata lesions show co-localization of bright red fluorescence with putative amoebocytes concentrating in the epidermis, suggesting an activated innate immune response. Here we report the cloning, expression, and characterization of a novel red fluorescent protein (plobRFP) from the pink-pigmented tissues associated with lesions on Porites lobata. In vitro, the recombinant plobRFP exhibits a distinct red emission signal of 614 nm (excitation maximum: 578 nm), making plobRFP the furthest red-shifted natural fluorescent protein isolated from a scleractinian coral. The recombinant protein has a high molar extinction coefficient (84,000 M-1 cm-1) and quantum yield (0.74), conferring a notable brightness to plobRFP. Sequence analysis suggests the distinct brightness and marked red shift may be inherent features of plobRFP's chromophore conformation. While plobRFP displays a tendency to aggregate, its high pH stability, photostability, and spectral properties make it a candidate for cell imaging applications and a potential template for engineering optimized RFPs. The association of plobRFP with a possible immune response furthers its potential use as a visual diagnostic and molecular biomarker for monitoring coral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Bridges
- Graduate Program in Marine Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Cheryl M Woodley
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Esther C Peters
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Lisa A May
- Consolidated Safety Services, Inc., NCCOS Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sylvia B Galloway
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA
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27
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Dias M, Ferreira A, Gouveia R, Madeira C, Jogee N, Cabral H, Diniz M, Vinagre C. Long-term exposure to increasing temperatures on scleractinian coral fragments reveals oxidative stress. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 150:104758. [PMID: 31301459 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is leading to increases in tropical storms' frequency and intensity, allowing fragmentation of reef-forming coral species, but also to coral bleaching and mortality. The first level of organism's response to an environmental perturbation occurs at the cellular level. This study investigated the long-term oxidative stress on fragments of nine Indo-Pacific reef-forming coral species exposed for 60 days to increasing temperatures (30 °C and 32 °C) and compared results with control temperature (26 °C). Coral overall condition (appearance), lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase activity (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were assessed. The species Turbinaria reniformis, Galaxea fascicularis, and Psammocora contigua were the most resistant to heat stress, presenting no oxidative damage at 30 °C. Unlike G. fasciularis, both T. reniformis and P. contigua showed no evidence of oxidative damage at 32 °C. All remaining species' fragments died at 32 °C. Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora damicornis were the most susceptible species to heat stress, not resisting at 30 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dias
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana Ferreira
- Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I, 1990-005, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Raúl Gouveia
- Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I, 1990-005, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolina Madeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Nadia Jogee
- The School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, The Grant Institute, James Hutton Road, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, UK
| | - Henrique Cabral
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal; Irstea, UR EABX, 50, Avenue de Verdun, 33612, Cestas, France
| | - Mário Diniz
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Catarina Vinagre
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
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28
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Nieves-González A, Ruiz-Diaz CP, Toledo-Hernández C, Ramírez-Lugo JS. A mathematical model of the interactions between Acropora cervicornis and its environment. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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29
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Chiu YL, Shikina S, Chang CF. Testicular somatic cells in the stony coral Euphyllia ancora express an endogenous green fluorescent protein. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:798-811. [PMID: 31056825 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In a variety of organisms, adult gonads contain several specialized somatic cells that regulate and support the development of germline cells. In stony corals, the characteristics and functions of gonadal somatic cells remain largely unknown. No molecular markers are currently available that allow for the identification and enrichment of gonadal somatic cells in corals. Here, we showed that the testicular somatic cells of a stony coral, Euphyllia ancora, express an endogenous green fluorescent protein (GFP). Fluorescence microscopy showed that, in contrast to the endogenous expression of the red fluorescent protein of E. ancora ovaries that we have previously reported, the testes displayed a distinct green fluorescence. Molecular identification and spectrum characterization demonstrated that E. ancora testes expressed a GFP (named EaGFP) that is a homolog of the GFP from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria and that possesses an excitation maximum of 506 nm and an emission maximum of 514 nm. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the testicular somatic cells, but not the germ cells, expressed EaGFP. EaGFP was enclosed within one or a few granules in the cytoplasm of testicular somatic cells, and the granule number decreased as spermatogenesis proceeded. We also showed that testicular somatic cells could be enriched by using endogenous GFP as an indicator. The present study not only revealed one of the unique cellular characteristics of coral testicular cells but also established a technical basis for more in-depth investigations of the function of testicular somatic cells in spermatogenesis in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ling Chiu
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shinya Shikina
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
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30
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Kahng SE, Akkaynak D, Shlesinger T, Hochberg EJ, Wiedenmann J, Tamir R, Tchernov D. Light, Temperature, Photosynthesis, Heterotrophy, and the Lower Depth Limits of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems. CORAL REEFS OF THE WORLD 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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31
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Wannier TM, Gillespie SK, Hutchins N, McIsaac RS, Wu SY, Shen Y, Campbell RE, Brown KS, Mayo SL. Monomerization of far-red fluorescent proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E11294-E11301. [PMID: 30425172 PMCID: PMC6275547 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1807449115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthozoa-class red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) are frequently used as biological markers, with far-red (λem ∼ 600-700 nm) emitting variants sought for whole-animal imaging because biological tissues are more permeable to light in this range. A barrier to the use of naturally occurring RFP variants as molecular markers is that all are tetrameric, which is not ideal for cell biological applications. Efforts to engineer monomeric RFPs have typically produced dimmer and blue-shifted variants because the chromophore is sensitive to small structural perturbations. In fact, despite much effort, only four native RFPs have been successfully monomerized, leaving the majority of RFP biodiversity untapped in biomarker development. Here we report the generation of monomeric variants of HcRed and mCardinal, both far-red dimers, and describe a comprehensive methodology for the monomerization of red-shifted oligomeric RFPs. Among the resultant variants is mKelly1 (emission maximum, λem = 656 nm), which, along with the recently reported mGarnet2 [Matela G, et al. (2017) Chem Commun (Camb) 53:979-982], forms a class of bright, monomeric, far-red FPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Wannier
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125;
| | - Sarah K Gillespie
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Nicholas Hutchins
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - R Scott McIsaac
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Sheng-Yi Wu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Yi Shen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Robert E Campbell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kevin S Brown
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
- Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340
| | - Stephen L Mayo
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125;
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Takahashi-Kariyazono S, Sakai K, Terai Y. Presence-Absence Polymorphisms of Highly Expressed FP Sequences Contribute to Fluorescent Polymorphisms in Acropora digitifera. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:1715-1729. [PMID: 30016429 PMCID: PMC6048989 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite many hypotheses regarding the roles of fluorescent proteins (FPs), their biological roles and the genetic basis of FP-mediated color polymorphisms in Acropora remain unclear. In this study, we determined the genetic mechanism underlying fluorescent polymorphisms in A. digitifera. Using a high-throughput sequencing approach, we found that FP gene sequences in FP multigene family exhibit presence-absence polymorphism among individuals. A few particular sequences in short-to-middle wavelength emission and middle-to-long wavelength emission clades were highly expressed in adults, and different sequences were highly expressed in larvae. These highly expressed sequences were absent in the genomes of individuals with low total FP gene expression. In adults, presence-absence differences of the highly expressed FP sequences were consistent with measurements of emission spectra of corals, suggesting that presence-absence polymorphisms of these FP sequences contributed to the fluorescent polymorphisms. The functions of recombinant FPs encoded by highly expressed sequences in adult and larval stages were different, suggesting that expression of FP sequences with different functions may depend on the life-stage of A. digitifera. Highly expressed FP sequences exhibited presence-absence polymorphisms in subpopulations of A. digitifera, suggesting that presence-absence status is maintained during the evolution of A. digitifera subpopulations. The difference in FPs between adults and larvae and the polymorphisms of highly expressed FP genes may provide key insight into the biological roles of FPs in corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Takahashi-Kariyazono
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Shonan Village, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Sakai
- Department of Coral Reef and Biological Science, Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Motobu, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yohey Terai
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Shonan Village, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
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Overmans S, Nordborg M, Díaz-Rúa R, Brinkman DL, Negri AP, Agustí S. Phototoxic effects of PAH and UVA exposure on molecular responses and developmental success in coral larvae. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 198:165-174. [PMID: 29550714 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic carbons (PAHs) poses a growing risk to coral reefs due to increasing shipping and petroleum extraction in tropical waters. Damaging effects of specific PAHs can be further enhanced by the presence of ultraviolet radiation, known as phototoxicity. We tested phototoxic effects of the PAHs anthracene and phenanthrene on larvae of the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis in the presence and absence of UVA (320-400 nm). Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme was reduced by anthracene while phenanthrene and UVA exposure did not have any effect. Gene expression of MnSod remained constant across all treatments. The genes Catalase, Hsp70 and Hsp90 showed increased expression levels in larvae exposed to anthracene, but not phenanthrene. Gene expression of p53 was upregulated in the presence of UVA, but downregulated when exposed to PAHs. The influence on stress-related biochemical pathways and gene expresson in A. tenuis larvae was considerably greater for anthracene than phenanthrene, and UVA-induced phototoxicity was only evident for anthracene. The combined effects of UVA and PAH exposure on larval survival and metamorphosis paralleled the sub-lethal stress responses, clearly highlighting the interaction of UVA on anthracene toxicity and ultimately the coral's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Overmans
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mikaela Nordborg
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia; James Cook University (JCU), Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Rubén Díaz-Rúa
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Diane L Brinkman
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew P Negri
- Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Susana Agustí
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
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34
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How does an animal behave like a plant? Physiological and molecular adaptations of zooxanthellae and their hosts to symbiosis. C R Biol 2018; 341:276-280. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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35
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Jarett JK, MacManes MD, Morrow KM, Pankey MS, Lesser MP. Comparative Genomics of Color Morphs In the Coral Montastraea cavernosa. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16039. [PMID: 29167578 PMCID: PMC5700045 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16371-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Montastraea cavernosa is a common coral in the Caribbean basin found in several color morphs. To investigate the causes for brown and orange morphs we undertook a genomics approach on corals collected at the same time and depth in the Bahamas. The coral holobiont includes the host, symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium spp.), and a diverse microbiome. While the coral host showed significant genetic differentiation between color morphs both the composition of the Symbiodinium spp. communities and the prokaryotic communities did not. Both targeted and global gene expression differences in the transcriptome of the host show no difference in fluorescent proteins while the metatranscriptome of the microbiome shows that pigments such as phycoerythrin and orange carotenoid protein of cyanobacterial origin are significantly greater in orange morphs, which is also consistent with the significantly greater number of cyanobacteria quantified by 16S rRNA reads and flow cytometry. The microbiome of orange color morphs expressed significantly more nitrogenase (nifH) transcripts consistent with their known ability to fix nitrogen. Both coral and Symbiodinium spp. transcriptomes from orange morphs had significantly increased expression of genes related to immune response and apoptosis, which may potentially be involved in maintaining and regulating the unique symbiont population in orange morphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica K Jarett
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
- US Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Matthew D MacManes
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Kathleen M Morrow
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - M Sabrina Pankey
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Michael P Lesser
- Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
- School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
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36
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Weynberg KD, Laffy PW, Wood-Charlson EM, Turaev D, Rattei T, Webster NS, van Oppen MJH. Coral-associated viral communities show high levels of diversity and host auxiliary functions. PeerJ 2017; 5:e4054. [PMID: 29158985 PMCID: PMC5695250 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stony corals (Scleractinia) are marine invertebrates that form the foundation and framework upon which tropical reefs are built. The coral animal associates with a diverse microbiome comprised of dinoflagellate algae and other protists, bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses. Using a metagenomics approach, we analysed the DNA and RNA viral assemblages of seven coral species from the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR), demonstrating that tailed bacteriophages of the Caudovirales dominate across all species examined, and ssDNA viruses, notably the Microviridae, are also prevalent. Most sequences with matches to eukaryotic viruses were assigned to six viral families, including four Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDVs) families: Iridoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Mimiviridae, and Poxviridae, as well as Retroviridae and Polydnaviridae. Contrary to previous findings, Herpesvirales were rare in these GBR corals. Sequences of a ssRNA virus with similarities to the dinornavirus, Heterocapsa circularisquama ssRNA virus of the Alvernaviridae that infects free-living dinoflagellates, were observed in three coral species. We also detected viruses previously undescribed from the coral holobiont, including a virus that targets fungi associated with the coral species Acropora tenuis. Functional analysis of the assembled contigs indicated a high prevalence of latency-associated genes in the coral-associated viral assemblages, several host-derived auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) for photosynthesis (psbA, psbD genes encoding the photosystem II D1 and D2 proteins respectively), as well as potential nematocyst toxins and antioxidants (genes encoding green fluorescent-like chromoprotein). This study expands the currently limited knowledge on coral-associated viruses by characterising viral composition and function across seven GBR coral species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen D Weynberg
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Patrick W Laffy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Dmitrij Turaev
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Computational Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rattei
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Computational Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Suggett DJ, Warner ME, Leggat W. Symbiotic Dinoflagellate Functional Diversity Mediates Coral Survival under Ecological Crisis. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 32:735-745. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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38
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Bonesso JL, Leggat W, Ainsworth TD. Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3719. [PMID: 28828283 PMCID: PMC5564385 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3719] [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] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of bleaching events due to temperatures exceeding corals’ upper thermal limits. The temperatures at which a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis (coral bleaching) occurs are referred to as the upper thermal limits for the coral species. This breakdown of the endosymbiosis results in a reduction of corals’ nutritional uptake, growth, and tissue integrity. Periods of elevated sea surface temperature, thermal stress and coral bleaching are also linked to increased disease susceptibility and an increased frequency of storms which cause injury and physical damage to corals. Herein we aimed to determine the capacity of corals to regenerate and recover from injuries (removal of apical tips) sustained during periods of elevated sea surface temperatures which result in coral stress responses, but which do not result in coral bleaching (i.e., sub-bleaching thermal stress events). In this study, exposure of the species Acropora aspera to an elevated SST of 32 °C (2 °C below the bleaching threshold, 34 °C) was found to result in reduced fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP), reduced skeletal calcification and a lack of branch regrowth at the site of injury, compared to corals maintained under ambient SST conditions (26 °C). Corals maintained under normal, ambient, sea surface temperatures expressed high GFP fluorescence at the injury site, underwent a rapid regeneration of the coral branch apical tip within 12 days of sustaining injury, and showed extensive regrowth of the coral skeleton. Taken together, our results have demonstrated that periods of sustained increased sea surface temperatures, below the corals’ bleaching threshold but above long-term summertime averages, impair coral recovery from damage, regardless of the onset or occurrence of coral bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Louis Bonesso
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - William Leggat
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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39
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Thomas L, Kennington WJ, Evans RD, Kendrick GA, Stat M. Restricted gene flow and local adaptation highlight the vulnerability of high-latitude reefs to rapid environmental change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:2197-2205. [PMID: 28132420 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Global climate change poses a serious threat to the future health of coral reef ecosystems. This calls for management strategies that are focused on maximizing the evolutionary potential of coral reefs. Fundamental to this is an accurate understanding of the spatial genetic structure in dominant reef-building coral species. In this study, we apply a genotyping-by-sequencing approach to investigate genome-wide patterns of genetic diversity, gene flow, and local adaptation in a reef-building coral, Pocillopora damicornis, across 10 degrees of latitude and a transition from temperate to tropical waters. We identified strong patterns of differentiation and reduced genetic diversity in high-latitude populations. In addition, genome-wide scans for selection identified a number of outlier loci putatively under directional selection with homology to proteins previously known to be involved in heat tolerance in corals and associated with processes such as photoprotection, protein degradation, and immunity. This study provides genomic evidence for both restricted gene flow and local adaptation in a widely distributed coral species, and highlights the potential vulnerability of leading-edge populations to rapid environmental change as they are locally adapted, reproductively isolated, and have reduced levels of genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Thomas
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - W Jason Kennington
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Richard D Evans
- Science and Conservation Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Marine Science Program, Perth, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Michael Stat
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
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40
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Takahashi-Kariyazono S, Gojobori J, Satta Y, Sakai K, Terai Y. Acropora digitifera Encodes the Largest Known Family of Fluorescent Proteins that Has Persisted during the Evolution of Acropora Species. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:3271-3283. [PMID: 27920057 PMCID: PMC5203795 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are well known and broadly used as bio-imaging markers in molecular biology research. Many FP genes were cloned from anthozoan species and it was suggested that multi-copies of these genes are present in their genomes. However, the full complement of FP genes in any single coral species remained unidentified. In this study, we analyzed the FP genes in two stony coral species. FP cDNA sequences from Acropora digitifera and Acropora tenuis revealed the presence of a multi-gene family with an unexpectedly large number of genes, separated into short-/middle-wavelength emission (S/MWE), middle-/long-wavelength emission (M/LWE), and chromoprotein (CP) clades. FP gene copy numbers in the genomes of four A. digitifera colonies were estimated as 16–22 in the S/MWE, 3–6 in the M/LWE, and 8–12 in the CP clades, and, in total, 35, 31, 33, and 33 FP gene copies per individual shown by quantitative PCR. To the best of our knowledge, these are the largest sets of FP genes per genome. The fluorescent light produced by recombinant protein products encoded by the newly isolated genes explained the fluorescent range of live A. digitifera, suggesting that the high copy multi-FP gene family generates coral fluorescence. The functionally diverse multi-FP gene family must have existed in the ancestor of Acropora species, as suggested by molecular phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses. The persistence of a diverse function and high copy number multi-FP gene family may indicate the biological importance of diverse fluorescence emission and light absorption in Acropora species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiho Takahashi-Kariyazono
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Japan
| | - Jun Gojobori
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Japan
| | - Yoko Satta
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Sakai
- Department of Coral Reef and Biological Science, Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa 905-0227, Japan
| | - Yohey Terai
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shonan Village, Hayama, Japan
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41
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van de Water JAJM, Lamb JB, Heron SF, van Oppen MJH, Willis BL. Temporal patterns in innate immunity parameters in reef‐building corals and linkages with local climatic conditions. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco MC 98000 Monaco
| | - Joleah B. Lamb
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Scott F. Heron
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–Coral Reef Watch James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Marine Geophysical Laboratory Physics Department College of Science, Technology and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
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42
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Traylor-Knowles N. Distinctive wound-healing characteristics in the corals Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora hyacinthus found in two different temperature regimes. MARINE BIOLOGY 2016; 163:231. [PMID: 27812225 PMCID: PMC5067285 DOI: 10.1007/s00227-016-3011-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Wound healing is a critical physiological function needed for survival in all marine organisms. However, it is particularly critical in organisms like corals, which cannot escape predators. In this study, I characterized the gross morphology of wound healing in Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora hyacinthus found in two pools with distinct previously documented temperature profiles in Ofu, American Samoa. I observed differences between healing rates of A. hyacinthus versus P. damicornis, but no significant difference in healing rates between A. hyacinthus colonies found in different environmental regimes. Both coral species exhibit very distinct healing phenotypes, where A. hyacinthus develops a pink pigmentation and P. damicornis forms an algal/sand plug. The algal/sand plug appeared in corals found in the highly variable pool more quickly than in the corals from the moderately variable pool. Lastly, P. damicornis appeared to never fully heal during this two-week study, indicating that it is a slower healer despite predation pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Oceanview Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 USA
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 USA
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43
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Nault L, Bouchab L, Dupré-Crochet S, Nüße O, Erard M. Environmental Effects on Reactive Oxygen Species Detection-Learning from the Phagosome. Antioxid Redox Signal 2016; 25:564-76. [PMID: 27225344 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2016.6747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Reactive oxygen species (ROS) fulfill numerous roles in biology ranging from signal transduction to the induction of cell death. To advance our understanding of these sometimes contradictory roles, quantitative, specific, and sensitive ROS measurements are required. RECENT ADVANCES Several organic or genetically encoded probes were successfully developed for ROS detection. CRITICAL ISSUES In some cases, ROS production occurs in a harsh environment such as low pH or high concentration of proteases. However, the ROS sensor may be sensitive to such environmental conditions and therefore becomes inaccurate. While the sensitivity of many ROS sensors to pH is known, many other environmental conditions remain unexplored. This article illustrates the interference between ROS sensors and their environment using the phagosome as an example. In the phagosome, pH changes, high concentration of ROS, and the presence of many proteases generate a hostile and rapidly changing environment. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Difficulties due to cell movement and continuous formation of new phagosomes can be reduced by ratio measurements, if appropriate dyes are identified. For detection in live cells and subcellular locations, fluorescent proteins (FPs) offer several advantages and are used to create biosensors for ROS. Some FPs are directly sensitive to certain ROS as shown here. Although this may compromise their use in an environment with high levels of ROS, it can also be exploited for ROS measurement directly with the FPs themselves. For all types of ROS detection, we suggest a set of basic guidelines for testing the environmental sensitivity of an ROS sensor. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 25, 564-576.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Nault
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris Saclay , Orsay, France
| | - Leïla Bouchab
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris Saclay , Orsay, France
| | - Sophie Dupré-Crochet
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris Saclay , Orsay, France
| | - Oliver Nüße
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris Saclay , Orsay, France
| | - Marie Erard
- Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris Saclay , Orsay, France
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Fuess LE, Pinzόn C JH, Weil E, Mydlarz LD. Associations between transcriptional changes and protein phenotypes provide insights into immune regulation in corals. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 62:17-28. [PMID: 27109903 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Disease outbreaks in marine ecosystems have driven worldwide declines of numerous taxa, including corals. Some corals, such as Orbicella faveolata, are particularly susceptible to disease. To explore the mechanisms contributing to susceptibility, colonies of O. faveolata were exposed to immune challenge with lipopolysaccharides. RNA sequencing and protein activity assays were used to characterize the response of corals to immune challenge. Differential expression analyses identified 17 immune-related transcripts that varied in expression post-immune challenge. Network analyses revealed several groups of transcripts correlated to immune protein activity. Several transcripts, which were annotated as positive regulators of immunity were included in these groups, and some were downregulated following immune challenge. Correlations between expression of these transcripts and protein activity results further supported the role of these transcripts in positive regulation of immunity. The observed pattern of gene expression and protein activity may elucidate the processes contributing to the disease susceptibility of species like O. faveolata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Jorge H Pinzόn C
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA.
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Shikina S, Chiu YL, Chung YJ, Chen CJ, Lee YH, Chang CF. Oocytes express an endogenous red fluorescent protein in a stony coral, Euphyllia ancora: a potential involvement in coral oogenesis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25868. [PMID: 27167722 PMCID: PMC4863156 DOI: 10.1038/srep25868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To date,the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying coral sexual reproduction remain largely unknown. We then performed a differential screen to identify genes related to oogenesis in the stony coral Euphyllia ancora. We identified a clone encoding a novel red fluorescent protein cDNA of E. ancora (named EaRFP). Microscopic observation and quantitative RT-PCR revealed that EaRFP is almost exclusively expressed in the ovary of the adult coral. The combination of the ovarian-cell separation method and the RT-PCR analysis revealed that the oocytes, but not the ovarian somatic cells, are the cells expressing EaRFP. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression of EaRFP starts in the early stage of the oocyte and continues until the maturation period. Furthermore, recombinant EaRFP was shown to possess an H2O2 degradation activity. These results raise the possibility that EaRFP plays a role in protecting the oocytes from oxidative stress from the early to late stages of oogenesis. The present study provides not only the first evidence for the potential involvement of FPs in coral oogenesis but also an insight into a cellular strategy underlying coral sexual reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Shikina
- Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Chiu
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jou Chung
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
| | - Chieh-Jhen Chen
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Horn Lee
- Tungkang Biotechnology Research Center, Fisheries Research Institute, Tungkang, 20246, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Fong Chang
- Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
- Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan
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46
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Anderson DA, Walz ME, Weil E, Tonellato P, Smith MC. RNA-Seq of the Caribbean reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia-Merulinidae) under bleaching and disease stress expands models of coral innate immunity. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1616. [PMID: 26925311 PMCID: PMC4768675 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change-driven coral disease outbreaks have led to widespread declines in coral populations. Early work on coral genomics established that corals have a complex innate immune system, and whole-transcriptome gene expression studies have revealed mechanisms by which the coral immune system responds to stress and disease. The present investigation expands bioinformatic data available to study coral molecular physiology through the assembly and annotation of a reference transcriptome of the Caribbean reef-building coral, Orbicella faveolata. Samples were collected during a warm water thermal anomaly, coral bleaching event and Caribbean yellow band disease outbreak in 2010 in Puerto Rico. Multiplex sequencing of RNA on the Illumina GAIIx platform and de novo transcriptome assembly by Trinity produced 70,745,177 raw short-sequence reads and 32,463 O. faveolata transcripts, respectively. The reference transcriptome was annotated with gene ontologies, mapped to KEGG pathways, and a predicted proteome of 20,488 sequences was generated. Protein families and signaling pathways that are essential in the regulation of innate immunity across Phyla were investigated in-depth. Results were used to develop models of evolutionarily conserved Wnt, Notch, Rig-like receptor, Nod-like receptor, and Dicer signaling. O. faveolata is a coral species that has been studied widely under climate-driven stress and disease, and the present investigation provides new data on the genes that putatively regulate its immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Anderson
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Marcus E Walz
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States of America
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez , Mayagüez, Puerto Rico , United States of America
| | - Peter Tonellato
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew C Smith
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States of America
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Strader ME, Aglyamova GV, Matz MV. Red fluorescence in coral larvae is associated with a diapause‐like state. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:559-69. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Revised: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie E. Strader
- Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - Galina V. Aglyamova
- Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - Mikhail V. Matz
- Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78712 USA
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48
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Gochfeld DJ, Ankisetty S, Slattery M. Proteomic profiling of healthy and diseased hybrid soft corals Sinularia maxima × S. polydactyla. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2015; 116:133-141. [PMID: 26480916 DOI: 10.3354/dao02910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Emerging diseases of marine invertebrates have been implicated as one of the major causes of the continuing decline in coral reefs worldwide. To date, most of the focus on marine diseases has been aimed at hard (scleractinian) corals, which are the main reef builders worldwide. However, soft (alcyonacean) corals are also essential components of tropical reefs, representing food, habitat and the 'glue' that consolidates reefs, and they are subject to the same stressors as hard corals. Sinularia maxima and S. polydactyla are the dominant soft corals on the shallow reefs of Guam, where they hybridize. In addition to both parent species, the hybrid soft coral population in Guam is particularly affected by Sinularia tissue loss disease. Using label-free shotgun proteomics, we identified differences in protein expression between healthy and diseased colonies of the hybrid S. maxima × S. polydactyla. This study provided qualitative and quantitative data on specific proteins that were differentially expressed under the stress of disease. In particular, metabolic proteins were down-regulated, whereas proteins related to stress and to symbiont photosynthesis were up-regulated in the diseased soft corals. These results indicate that soft corals are responding to pathogenesis at the level of the proteome, and that this label-free approach can be used to identify and quantify protein biomarkers of sub-lethal stress in studies of marine disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Gochfeld
- National Center for Natural Products Research, and Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, PO Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848, USA
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Islam MA, Sharif SR, Lee H, Moon IS. N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine Kinase Promotes the Axonal Growth of Developing Neurons. Mol Cells 2015; 38:876-85. [PMID: 26467288 PMCID: PMC4625069 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2015.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-D-glucosamine kinase (NAGK) plays an enzyme activity-independent, non-canonical role in the dendritogenesis of hippocampal neurons in culture. In this study, we investigated its role in axonal development. We found NAGK was distributed throughout neurons until developmental stage 3 (axonal outgrowth), and that its axonal expression remarkably decreased during stage 4 (dendritic outgrowth) and became negligible in stage 5 (mature). Immunocytochemistry (ICC) showed colocalization of NAGK with tubulin in hippocampal neurons and with Golgi in somata, dendrites, and nascent axons. A proximity ligation assay (PLA) for NAGK and Golgi marker protein followed by ICC for tubulin or dynein light chain roadblock type 1 (DYNLRB1) in stage 3 neurons showed NAGK-Golgi complex colocalized with DYNLRB1 at the tips of microtubule (MT) fibers in axonal growth cones and in somatodendritic areas. PLAs for NAGK-dynein combined with tubulin or Golgi ICC showed similar signal patterns, indicating a three way interaction between NAGK, dynein, and Golgi in growing axons. In addition, overexpression of the NAGK gene and of kinase mutant NAGK genes increased axonal lengths, and knockdown of NAGK by small hairpin (sh) RNA reduced axonal lengths; suggesting a structural role for NAGK in axonal growth. Finally, transfection of 'DYNLRB1 (74-96)', a small peptide derived from DYNLRB1's C-terminal, which binds with NAGK, resulted in neurons with shorter axons in culture. The authors suggest a NAGK-dynein-Golgi tripartite interaction in growing axons is instrumental during early axonal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Ariful Islam
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714,
Korea
| | - Syeda Ridita Sharif
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714,
Korea
| | - HyunSook Lee
- Dongguk Medical Institute, College of Medicine Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714,
Korea
| | - Il Soo Moon
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714,
Korea
- Dongguk Medical Institute, College of Medicine Dongguk University, Gyeongju 780-714,
Korea
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50
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Haddock SHD, Dunn CW. Fluorescent proteins function as a prey attractant: experimental evidence from the hydromedusa Olindias formosus and other marine organisms. Biol Open 2015; 4:1094-104. [PMID: 26231627 PMCID: PMC4582119 DOI: 10.1242/bio.012138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Although proteins in the green fluorescent protein family (GFPs) have been discovered in a wide array of taxa, their ecological functions in these organisms remain unclear. Many hypothesized roles are related to modifying bioluminescence spectra or modulating the light regime for algal symbionts, but these do not explain the presence of GFPs in animals that are non-luminous and non-symbiotic. Other hypothesized functions are unrelated to the visual signals themselves, including stress responses and antioxidant roles, but these cannot explain the localization of fluorescence in particular structures on the animals. Here we tested the hypothesis that fluorescence might serve to attract prey. In laboratory experiments, the predator was the hydromedusa Olindias formosus (previously known as O. formosa), which has fluorescent and pigmented patches on the tips of its tentacles. The prey, juvenile rockfishes in the genus Sebastes, were significantly more attracted (P<1×10−5) to the medusa's tentacles under lighting conditions where fluorescence was excited and tentacle tips were visible above the background. The fish did not respond significantly when treatments did not include fluorescent structures or took place under yellow or white lights, which did not generate fluorescence visible above the ambient light. Furthermore, underwater observations of the behavior of fishes when presented with a brightly illuminated point showed a strong attraction to this visual stimulus. In situ observations also provided evidence for fluorescent lures as supernormal stimuli in several other marine animals, including the siphonophore Rhizophysa eysenhardti. Our results support the idea that fluorescent structures can serve as prey attractants, thus providing a potential function for GFPs and other fluorescent proteins in a diverse range of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H D Haddock
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), 7700 Sandholdt Rd, Moss Landing, CA 95039-9644, USA
| | - Casey W Dunn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Box GW, 80 Waterman St, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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