Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones
Phylum Cnidaria is an ancient venomous group defined by the presence of cnidae, specialised organelles that serve as venom delivery systems. The distribution of cnidae across the body plan is linked to regionalisation of venom production, with tissue-specific venom composition observed in multiple a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/7/452 |
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| author | Lauren M. Ashwood Michela L. Mitchell Bruno Madio David A. Hurwood Glenn F. King Eivind A. B. Undheim Raymond S. Norton Peter J. Prentis |
| author_facet | Lauren M. Ashwood Michela L. Mitchell Bruno Madio David A. Hurwood Glenn F. King Eivind A. B. Undheim Raymond S. Norton Peter J. Prentis |
| author_sort | Lauren M. Ashwood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phylum Cnidaria is an ancient venomous group defined by the presence of cnidae, specialised organelles that serve as venom delivery systems. The distribution of cnidae across the body plan is linked to regionalisation of venom production, with tissue-specific venom composition observed in multiple actiniarian species. In this study, we assess whether morphological variants of tentacles are associated with distinct toxin expression profiles and investigate the functional significance of specialised tentacular structures. Using five sea anemone species, we analysed differential expression of toxin-like transcripts and found that expression levels differ significantly across tentacular structures when substantial morphological variation is present. Therefore, the differential expression of toxin genes is associated with morphological variation of tentacular structures in a tissue-specific manner. Furthermore, the unique toxin profile of spherical tentacular structures in families Aliciidae and Thalassianthidae indicate that vesicles and nematospheres may function to protect branched structures that host a large number of photosynthetic symbionts. Thus, hosting zooxanthellae may account for the tentacle-specific toxin expression profiles observed in the current study. Overall, specialised tentacular structures serve unique ecological roles and, in order to fulfil their functions, they possess distinct venom cocktails. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:57:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ab99c3f64d74c28ba03a28da7b39f7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:57:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ab99c3f64d74c28ba03a28da7b39f7f2023-11-22T02:11:37ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512021-06-0113745210.3390/toxins13070452Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea AnemonesLauren M. Ashwood0Michela L. Mitchell1Bruno Madio2David A. Hurwood3Glenn F. King4Eivind A. B. Undheim5Raymond S. Norton6Peter J. Prentis7School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaMedicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaCentre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaMedicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, AustraliaPhylum Cnidaria is an ancient venomous group defined by the presence of cnidae, specialised organelles that serve as venom delivery systems. The distribution of cnidae across the body plan is linked to regionalisation of venom production, with tissue-specific venom composition observed in multiple actiniarian species. In this study, we assess whether morphological variants of tentacles are associated with distinct toxin expression profiles and investigate the functional significance of specialised tentacular structures. Using five sea anemone species, we analysed differential expression of toxin-like transcripts and found that expression levels differ significantly across tentacular structures when substantial morphological variation is present. Therefore, the differential expression of toxin genes is associated with morphological variation of tentacular structures in a tissue-specific manner. Furthermore, the unique toxin profile of spherical tentacular structures in families Aliciidae and Thalassianthidae indicate that vesicles and nematospheres may function to protect branched structures that host a large number of photosynthetic symbionts. Thus, hosting zooxanthellae may account for the tentacle-specific toxin expression profiles observed in the current study. Overall, specialised tentacular structures serve unique ecological roles and, in order to fulfil their functions, they possess distinct venom cocktails.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/7/452Actiniariavenomtoxin expressiontranscriptomicsecology |
| spellingShingle | Lauren M. Ashwood Michela L. Mitchell Bruno Madio David A. Hurwood Glenn F. King Eivind A. B. Undheim Raymond S. Norton Peter J. Prentis Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones Toxins Actiniaria venom toxin expression transcriptomics ecology |
| title | Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones |
| title_full | Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones |
| title_fullStr | Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones |
| title_short | Tentacle Morphological Variation Coincides with Differential Expression of Toxins in Sea Anemones |
| title_sort | tentacle morphological variation coincides with differential expression of toxins in sea anemones |
| topic | Actiniaria venom toxin expression transcriptomics ecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/13/7/452 |
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