Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China.
School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China.
Sci Adv. 2023 Oct 20;9(42):eadh0474. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0474.
Hydrothermal vent habitats are characterized by high hydrostatic pressure, darkness, and the continuous release of toxic metal ions into the surrounding environment where sea anemones and other invertebrates thrive. Nevertheless, the understanding of metazoan metal ion tolerances and environmental adaptations remains limited. We assembled a chromosome-level genome for the vent sea anemone, sp. nov. Comparative genomic analyses revealed gene family expansions and gene innovations in sp. nov. as a response to high concentrations of metal ions. Impressively, the metal tolerance proteins is a unique evolutionary response to the high concentrations of Fe and Mn present in the environments of these anemones. We also found genes associated with high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids that may respond to high hydrostatic pressure and found sensory and circadian rhythm-regulated genes that were essential for adaptations to darkness. Overall, our results provide insights into metazoan adaptation to metal ions, high pressure, and darkness in hydrothermal vents.
热液喷口栖息地的特点是静水压力高、黑暗以及有毒金属离子不断释放到周围环境中，而海葵和其他无脊椎动物在此茁壮成长。然而，对于后生动物金属离子耐受和环境适应的理解仍然有限。我们为热液喷口海葵 sp. nov.组装了一个染色体水平的基因组。比较基因组分析显示， sp. nov. 作为对高浓度金属离子的响应，出现了基因家族的扩张和基因创新。令人印象深刻的是，金属耐受蛋白 是对这些海葵所处环境中存在的高浓度 Fe 和 Mn 的独特进化响应。我们还发现了与高浓度多不饱和脂肪酸相关的基因，这些基因可能对高静水压力有反应，并且发现了与适应黑暗有关的感觉和昼夜节律调节基因。总的来说，我们的研究结果提供了后生动物适应热液喷口金属离子、高压和黑暗环境的见解。
