Rodriguez-Lanetty Mauricio, Phillips Wendy S, Weis Virginia M
Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
BMC Genomics. 2006 Feb 10;7:23. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-23.
Cnidarian-dinoflagellate intracellular symbioses are one of the most important mutualisms in the marine environment. They form the trophic and structural foundation of coral reef ecosystems, and have played a key role in the evolutionary radiation and biodiversity of cnidarian species. Despite the prevalence of these symbioses, we still know very little about the molecular modulators that initiate, regulate, and maintain the interaction between these two different biological entities. In this study, we conducted a comparative host anemone transcriptome analysis using a cDNA microarray platform to identify genes involved in cnidarian-algal symbiosis.
We detected statistically significant differences in host gene expression profiles between sea anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima) in a symbiotic and non-symbiotic state. The group of genes, whose expression is altered, is diverse, suggesting that the molecular regulation of the symbiosis is governed by changes in multiple cellular processes. In the context of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses, we discuss pivotal host gene expression changes involved in lipid metabolism, cell adhesion, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress.
Our data do not support the existence of symbiosis-specific genes involved in controlling and regulating the symbiosis. Instead, it appears that the symbiosis is maintained by altering expression of existing genes involved in vital cellular processes. Specifically, the finding of key genes involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis have led us to hypothesize that a suppression of apoptosis, together with a deregulation of the host cell cycle, create a platform that might be necessary for symbiont and/or symbiont-containing host cell survival. This first comprehensive molecular examination of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate associations provides critical insights into the maintenance and regulation of the symbiosis.
刺胞动物与甲藻的细胞内共生关系是海洋环境中最重要的互利共生关系之一。它们构成了珊瑚礁生态系统的营养和结构基础，并在刺胞动物物种的进化辐射和生物多样性中发挥了关键作用。尽管这些共生关系很普遍，但我们对启动、调节和维持这两种不同生物实体之间相互作用的分子调节因子仍知之甚少。在本研究中，我们使用cDNA微阵列平台进行了比较宿主海葵转录组分析，以鉴定参与刺胞动物 - 藻类共生的基因。
我们检测到处于共生和非共生状态的海葵（华丽海葵）之间宿主基因表达谱存在统计学上的显著差异。表达发生改变的基因群体多种多样，这表明共生的分子调节受多种细胞过程变化的控制。在刺胞动物与甲藻共生关系的背景下，我们讨论了参与脂质代谢、细胞黏附、细胞增殖、凋亡和氧化应激的关键宿主基因表达变化。
我们的数据不支持存在参与控制和调节共生的共生特异性基因。相反，似乎共生是通过改变参与重要细胞过程的现有基因的表达来维持的。具体而言，参与细胞周期进程和凋亡的关键基因的发现使我们推测，凋亡的抑制以及宿主细胞周期的失调共同创造了一个可能是共生体和/或含共生体的宿主细胞存活所必需的平台。对刺胞动物与甲藻共生关系的首次全面分子研究为共生关系的维持和调节提供了重要见解。
