Comparison of sister species identifies factors underpinning plastid compatibility in green sea slugs.
Proc Biol Sci
; 282(1802)2015 Mar 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25652835
ABSTRACT
The only animal cells known that can maintain functional plastids (kleptoplasts) in their cytosol occur in the digestive gland epithelia of sacoglossan slugs. Only a few species of the many hundred known can profit from kleptoplasty during starvation long-term, but why is not understood. The two sister taxa Elysia cornigera and Elysia timida sequester plastids from the same algal species, but with a very different outcome:
while E. cornigera usually dies within the first two weeks when deprived of food, E. timida can survive for many months to come. Here we compare the responses of the two slugs to starvation, blocked photosynthesis and light stress. The two species respond differently, but in both starvation is the main denominator that alters global gene expression profiles. The kleptoplasts' ability to fix CO2 decreases at a similar rate in both slugs during starvation, but only E. cornigera individuals die in the presence of functional kleptoplasts, concomitant with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the digestive tract. We show that profiting from the acquisition of robust plastids, and key to E. timida's longer survival, is determined by an increased starvation tolerance that keeps ROS levels at bay.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Plastidios
/
Gastrópodos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Biol Sci
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Alemania