Teng Guangliang, Chen Wen, Shan Xiujuan, Zhu Qing, Jin Xianshi
Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
Shandong Changdao Fishery Resources National Field Observation and Research Station, Yantai 265800, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Aug 29;26(17):8415. doi: 10.3390/ijms26178415.
Marine litter provides novel habitats for substrate-dependent species, potentially facilitating their expansion under climate change. This study investigated the thermal adaptability and substrate selectivity of the cold-water sea anemone in the Yellow Sea, where rising temperatures and anthropogenic substrates may drive its proliferation. Behavioral experiments revealed diminished adhesion capacity under thermal stress (13 °C and 18 °C), with no substrate preference observed. Transcriptomic analysis identified 175 and 340 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 13 °C and 18 °C, respectively, compared with the control (8 °C). These DEGs were enriched in metabolic processes, oxidative stress, and cell homeostasis, with key pathways including dorso-ventral axis formation, ECM-receptor interaction, TGF-β, and Wnt signaling pathways. Notably, 7 regeneration-related, 20 adhesion-related, and 16 collagen-related DEGs were implicated in adaptive responses to heat stress. Our findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying 's resilience and highlight its potential to exploit human-modified habitats under warming conditions, offering insights into ecological shifts in marine ecosystems.
海洋垃圾为依赖基质的物种提供了新的栖息地，有可能在气候变化的情况下促进它们的扩张。本研究调查了黄海冷水海葵的热适应性和基质选择性，在黄海，温度上升和人为基质可能会促使其大量繁殖。行为实验表明，在热应激（13℃和18℃）下，海葵的附着能力下降，未观察到对基质的偏好。转录组分析确定，与对照组（8℃）相比，在13℃和18℃时分别有175个和340个差异表达基因（DEG）。这些差异表达基因在代谢过程、氧化应激和细胞内稳态中富集，关键途径包括背腹轴形成、细胞外基质-受体相互作用、转化生长因子-β和Wnt信号通路。值得注意的是，7个与再生相关、20个与附着相关和16个与胶原蛋白相关的差异表达基因参与了对热应激的适应性反应。我们的研究结果阐明了海葵恢复力的分子机制，并突出了其在变暖条件下利用人类改造栖息地的潜力，为海洋生态系统中的生态变化提供了见解。
