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Pigani E, Mele BH, Campese L, Ser-Giacomi E, Ribera M, Iudicone D, Suweis S. Deviation from neutral species abundance distributions unveils geographical differences in the structure of diatom communities. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadh0477. [PMID: 38457496 PMCID: PMC10923497 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the application of metagenomics techniques has advanced our understanding of plankton communities and their global distribution. Despite this progress, the relationship between the abundance distribution of diatom species and varying marine environmental conditions remains poorly understood. This study, leveraging data from the Tara Oceans expedition, tests the hypothesis that diatoms in sampled stations display a consistent species abundance distribution structure, as though they were sampled from a single ocean-wide metacommunity. Using a neutral sampling theory, we thus develop a framework to estimate the structure and diversity of diatom communities at each sampling station given the shape of the species abundance distribution of the metacommunity and the information of a reference station. Our analysis reveals a substantial temperature gradient in the discrepancies between predicted and observed biodiversity across the sampled stations. These findings challenge the hypothesis of a single neutral metacommunity, indicating that environmental differences substantially influence both the composition and structure of diatom communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pigani
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80135 Napoli, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Galileo Galilei”, Università di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Enrico Ser-Giacomi
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | | | - Samir Suweis
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Galileo Galilei”, Università di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Sezione di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
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Dissegna A, Borrelli L, Ponte G, Chiandetti C, Fiorito G. Octopus vulgaris Exhibits Interindividual Differences in Behavioural and Problem-Solving Performance. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:1487. [PMID: 38132313 PMCID: PMC10740590 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
By presenting individual Octopus vulgaris with an extractive foraging problem with a puzzle box, we examined the possible correlation between behavioural performances (e.g., ease of adaptation to captive conditions, prevalence of neophobic and neophilic behaviours, and propensity to learn individually or by observing conspecifics), biotic (body and brain size, age, sex) and abiotic (seasonality and place of origin) factors. We found more neophilic animals showing shorter latencies to approach the puzzle box and higher probability of solving the task; also, shorter times to solve the task were correlated with better performance on the individual learning task. However, the most neophilic octopuses that approached the puzzle box more quickly did not reach the solution earlier than other individuals, suggesting that strong neophilic tendency may lead to suboptimal performance at some stages of the problem-solving process. In addition, seasonal and environmental characteristics of location of origin appear to influence the rate of expression of individual traits central to problem solving. Overall, our analysis provides new insights into the traits associated with problem solving in invertebrates and highlights the presence of adaptive mechanisms that promote population-level changes in octopuses' behavioural traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Dissegna
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Luciana Borrelli
- Animal Physiology and Evolution Lab, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Ponte
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Cinzia Chiandetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.D.); (C.C.)
| | - Graziano Fiorito
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy;
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3
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D'Aniello S, Bertrand S, Escriva H. Amphioxus as a model to study the evolution of development in chordates. eLife 2023; 12:e87028. [PMID: 37721204 PMCID: PMC10506793 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cephalochordates and tunicates represent the only two groups of invertebrate chordates, and extant cephalochordates - commonly known as amphioxus or lancelets - are considered the best proxy for the chordate ancestor, from which they split around 520 million years ago. Amphioxus has been an important organism in the fields of zoology and embryology since the 18th century, and the morphological and genomic simplicity of cephalochordates (compared to vertebrates) makes amphioxus an attractive model for studying chordate biology at the cellular and molecular levels. Here we describe the life cycle of amphioxus, and discuss the natural histories and habitats of the different species of amphioxus. We also describe their use as laboratory animal models, and discuss the techniques that have been developed to study different aspects of amphioxus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore D'Aniello
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNapoliItaly
| | - Stephanie Bertrand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire OcéanologiqueBanyuls-sur-MerFrance
| | - Hector Escriva
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire OcéanologiqueBanyuls-sur-MerFrance
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4
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Gallo S, Nania G, Caruso V, Zicarelli G, Leonetti FL, Giglio G, Fedele G, Romano C, Bottaro M, Mangoni O, Scannella D, Vitale S, Falsone F, Sardo G, Geraci ML, Neri A, Marsili L, Mancusi C, Barca D, Sperone E. Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in the Muscle of the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus from Mediterranean Waters. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:951. [PMID: 37508382 PMCID: PMC10376227 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) from different areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Trace elements are of interest due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential for bioaccumulation. This research aims to assess the distribution and accumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of G. melastomus and investigate their potential impact on the deep-sea environment of the Mediterranean. The focused areas include the Ligurian Sea, the northern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Pantelleria Waters, and the Gela Waters. Samples were collected following established protocols, and trace element analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provides data on the concentrations of 17 trace elements, namely aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, selenium, strontium, lead, chromium, iron, barium, bismuth, and uranium. The findings contribute to a better understanding of trace element bioaccumulation patterns in elasmobranch species, specifically G. melastomus, and highlight the potential risks associated with chemical contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. This research emphasizes the importance of studying the impacts of pollutants on marine organisms, particularly those occupying key ecological roles, like sharks, to support effective conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Gallo
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Gianluca Nania
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Valentina Caruso
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Giorgia Zicarelli
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Luigi Leonetti
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Genoa Marine Centre, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianni Giglio
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Giorgio Fedele
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Chiara Romano
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bottaro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Genoa Marine Centre, Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Olga Mangoni
- Department of Biology, University of Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Danilo Scannella
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Sergio Vitale
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Fabio Falsone
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Giacomo Sardo
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | - Michele Luca Geraci
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council CNR, Via Luigi Vaccara 61, 91026 Mazara del Vallo, Italy
- Marine Biology and Fisheries Laboratory of Fano, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Adriatico 1/n, 61032 Fano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Neri
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata "G. Bacci" (CIBM), Viale N. Sauro 4, 57128 Livorno, Italy
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mancusi
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, Siena University, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Environmental Protection Agency-Tuscany Region (ARPAT), Via Marradi 114, 57126 Livorno, Italy
| | - Donatella Barca
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Emilio Sperone
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, 87036 Rende, Italy
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Pazzaglia J, Dattolo E, Ruocco M, Santillán-Sarmiento A, Marin-Guirao L, Procaccini G. DNA methylation dynamics in a coastal foundation seagrass species under abiotic stressors. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222197. [PMID: 36651048 PMCID: PMC9845983 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) has been intensively studied in terrestrial plants in response to environmental changes, but its dynamic changes in a temporal scale remain unexplored in marine plants. The seagrass Posidonia oceanica ranks among the slowest-growing and longest-living plants on Earth, and is particularly vulnerable to sea warming and local anthropogenic pressures. Here, we analysed the dynamics of DNAm changes in plants collected from coastal areas differentially impacted by eutrophication (i.e. oligotrophic, Ol; eutrophic, Eu) and exposed to abiotic stressors (nutrients, temperature increase and their combination). Levels of global DNAm (% 5-mC) and the expression of key genes involved in DNAm were assessed after one, two and five weeks of exposure. Results revealed a clear differentiation between plants, depending on environmental stimuli, time of exposure and plants' origin. % 5-mC levels were higher during the initial stress exposure especially in Ol plants, which upregulated almost all genes involved in DNAm. Contrarily, Eu plants showed lower expression levels, which increased under chronic exposure to stressors, particularly to temperature. These findings show that DNAm is dynamic in P. oceanica during stress exposure and underlined that environmental epigenetic variations could be implicated in the regulation of acclimation and phenotypic differences depending on local conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pazzaglia
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Alex Santillán-Sarmiento
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Faculty of Engineering, National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador
| | - Lazaro Marin-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
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6
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Deryckere A, Styfhals R, Elagoz AM, Maes GE, Seuntjens E. Identification of neural progenitor cells and their progeny reveals long distance migration in the developing octopus brain. eLife 2021; 10:e69161. [PMID: 34425939 PMCID: PMC8384421 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cephalopods have evolved nervous systems that parallel the complexity of mammalian brains in terms of neuronal numbers and richness in behavioral output. How the cephalopod brain develops has only been described at the morphological level, and it remains unclear where the progenitor cells are located and what molecular factors drive neurogenesis. Using histological techniques, we located dividing cells, neural progenitors and postmitotic neurons in Octopus vulgaris embryos. Our results indicate that an important pool of progenitors, expressing the conserved bHLH transcription factors achaete-scute or neurogenin, is located outside the central brain cords in the lateral lips adjacent to the eyes, suggesting that newly formed neurons migrate into the cords. Lineage-tracing experiments then showed that progenitors, depending on their location in the lateral lips, generate neurons for the different lobes, similar to the squid Doryteuthis pealeii. The finding that octopus newborn neurons migrate over long distances is reminiscent of vertebrate neurogenesis and suggests it might be a fundamental strategy for large brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Deryckere
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ruth Styfhals
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
| | - Ali Murat Elagoz
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Gregory E Maes
- Center for Human Genetics, Genomics Core, UZ-KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook UniversityTownsvilleAustralia
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Eve Seuntjens
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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7
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Entrambasaguas L, Ruocco M, Verhoeven KJF, Procaccini G, Marín-Guirao L. Gene body DNA methylation in seagrasses: inter- and intraspecific differences and interaction with transcriptome plasticity under heat stress. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14343. [PMID: 34253765 PMCID: PMC8275578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93606-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of DNA methylation and its interaction with gene expression and transcriptome plasticity is poorly understood, and current insight comes mainly from studies in very few model plant species. Here, we study gene body DNA methylation (gbM) and gene expression patterns in ecotypes from contrasting thermal environments of two marine plants with contrasting life history strategies in order to explore the potential role epigenetic mechanisms could play in gene plasticity and responsiveness to heat stress. In silico transcriptome analysis of CpGO/E ratios suggested that the bulk of Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa genes possess high levels of intragenic methylation. We also observed a correlation between gbM and gene expression flexibility: genes with low DNA methylation tend to show flexible gene expression and plasticity under changing conditions. Furthermore, the empirical determination of global DNA methylation (5-mC) showed patterns of intra and inter-specific divergence that suggests a link between methylation level and the plants' latitude of origin and life history. Although we cannot discern whether gbM regulates gene expression or vice versa, or if other molecular mechanisms play a role in facilitating transcriptome responsiveness, our findings point to the existence of a relationship between gene responsiveness and gbM patterns in marine plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Entrambasaguas
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Koen J F Verhoeven
- Terrestrial Ecology Department, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Lazaro Marín-Guirao
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, C/Varadero, 30740, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
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8
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Palomba E, Tirelli V, de Alteriis E, Parascandola P, Landi C, Mazzoleni S, Sanchez M. A cytofluorimetric analysis of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae population cultured in a fed-batch bioreactor. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248382. [PMID: 34111115 PMCID: PMC8191950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a reference model system and one of the widely used microorganisms in many biotechnological processes. In industrial yeast applications, combined strategies aim to maximize biomass/product yield, with the fed-batch culture being one of the most frequently used. Flow cytometry (FCM) is widely applied in biotechnological processes and represents a key methodology to monitor cell population dynamics. We propose here an application of FCM in the analysis of yeast cell cycle along the time course of a typical S. cerevisiae fed-batch culture. We used two different dyes, SYTOX Green and SYBR Green, with the aim to better define each stage of cell cycle during S. cerevisiae fed-batch culture. The results provide novel insights in the use of FCM cell cycle analysis for the real-time monitoring of S. cerevisiae bioprocesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Palomba
- Department of Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn”, Villa Comunale, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Palma Parascandola
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Carmine Landi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Stefano Mazzoleni
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Sanchez
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) Core Facilities, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Manfellotto F, Stella GR, Falciatore A, Brunet C, Ferrante MI. Engineering the Unicellular Alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum for Enhancing Carotenoid Production. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:E757. [PMID: 32824292 PMCID: PMC7465010 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9080757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microalgae represent a promising resource for the production of beneficial natural compounds due to their richness in secondary metabolites and easy cultivation. Carotenoids feature among distinctive compounds of many microalgae, including diatoms, which owe their golden color to the xanthophyll fucoxanthin. Carotenoids have antioxidant, anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties, and there is a considerable market demand for these compounds. Here, with the aim to increase the carotenoid content in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, we exploited genetic transformation to overexpress genes involved in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. We produced transgenic lines over-expressing simultaneously one, two or three carotenoid biosynthetic genes, and evaluated changes in pigment content with high-performance liquid chromatography. Two triple transformants over-expressing the genes Violaxanthin de-epoxidase (Vde), Vde-related (Vdr) and Zeaxanthin epoxidase 3 (Zep3) showed an accumulation of carotenoids, with an increase in the fucoxanthin content up to four fold. Vde, Vdr and Zep3 mRNA and protein levels in the triple transformants were coherently increased. The exact role of these enzymes in the diatom carotenoid biosynthetic pathway is not completely elucidated nevertheless our strategy successfully modulated the carotenoid metabolism leading to an accumulation of valuable compounds, leading the way toward improved utilization of microalgae in the field of antioxidants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulio Rocco Stella
- Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, UMR 7238, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, F-75005 Paris, France; (G.R.S.); (A.F.)
- Boston Consulting Group, Via Ugo Foscolo 1, 20121 Milano, Italy
| | - Angela Falciatore
- Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, UMR 7238, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, F-75005 Paris, France; (G.R.S.); (A.F.)
- Laboratory of Chloroplast Biology and Light Sensing in Microalgae, UMR 7141, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Christophe Brunet
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy;
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10
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Mutalipassi M, Mazzella V, Romano G, Ruocco N, Costantini M, Glaviano F, Zupo V. Growth and toxicity of Halomicronema metazoicum (Cyanoprokaryota, Cyanophyta) at different conditions of light, salinity and temperature. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio043604. [PMID: 31615766 PMCID: PMC6826285 DOI: 10.1242/bio.043604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria may live in the water column and in the benthos of aquatic environments, or be symbionts of other organisms, as in the case of Phormidium-like cyanobacteria, known to influence the ecology of freshwater and marine ecosystems. A strain of Phormidium-like cyanobacteria has been recently isolated as a free-living epiphyte of leaves of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile in the Mediterranean sea and its biology and ecology are herein investigated. It was identified as Halomicronema metazoicum, previously known uniquely as a symbiont of marine sponges. We cultivated it in a range of light irradiances, temperatures and salinities, to establish the most suitable conditions for the production of allelopathic and toxic compounds. The bioactivity of its spent culture medium was measured by means of standard toxicity tests performed on two model organisms. Our results indicate that at least two bioactive compounds are produced, at low and high irradiance levels and at two temperatures. The main compounds influencing the survival of model organisms are produced at the highest temperature and high or intermediate irradiance levels. The present research contributes to the understanding of critical toxigenic relationships among cyanobacteria and invertebrates, possibly influencing the ecology of such a complex environment as P. oceanica Future isolation, identification and production of bioactive compounds will permit their exploitation for biotechnologies in the field of ecological conservation and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Mutalipassi
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Valerio Mazzella
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Benthic Ecology Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Punta San Pietro, 80077 Ischia, Italy
| | - Giovanna Romano
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Nadia Ruocco
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Costantini
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Glaviano
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Valerio Zupo
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
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Valero-Gracia A, Marino R, Crocetta F, Nittoli V, Tiozzo S, Sordino P. Comparative localization of serotonin-like immunoreactive cells in Thaliacea informs tunicate phylogeny. Front Zool 2016; 13:45. [PMID: 27708681 PMCID: PMC5041399 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0177-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thaliaceans is one of the understudied classes of the phylum Tunicata. In particular, their phylogenetic relationships remain an issue of debate. The overall pattern of serotonin (5-HT) distribution is an excellent biochemical trait to interpret internal relationships at order level. In the experiments reported here we compared serotonin-like immunoreactivity at different life cycle stages of two salpid, one doliolid, and one pyrosomatid species. This multi-species comparison provides new neuroanatomical data for better resolving the phylogeny of the class Thaliacea. RESULTS Adults of all four examined thaliacean species exhibited serotonin-like immunoreactivity in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types, whose anatomical position with respect to the nervous system is consistently identifiable due to α-tubulin immunoreactivity. The results indicate an extensive pattern that is consistent with the presence of serotonin in cell bodies of variable morphology and position, with some variation within and among orders. Serotonin-like immunoreactivity was not found in immature forms such as blastozooids (Salpida), tadpole larvae (Doliolida) and young zooids (Pyrosomatida). CONCLUSIONS Comparative anatomy of serotonin-like immunoreactivity in all three thaliacean clades has not been reported previously. These results are discussed with regard to studies of serotonin-like immunoreactivity in adult ascidians. Lack of serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the endostyle of Salpida and Doliolida compared to Pyrosomella verticillata might be the result of secondary loss of serotonin control over ciliary beating and mucus secretion. These data, when combined with other plesiomorphic characters, support the hypothesis that Pyrosomatida is basal to these clades within Phlebobranchiata and that Salpida and Doliolida constitute sister-groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Valero-Gracia
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Marino
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Crocetta
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
- Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, GR-19013 Anavyssos, Greece
| | - Valeria Nittoli
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Tiozzo
- Observatoire Océanographique, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
| | - Paolo Sordino
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
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