Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement
Abstract The global degradation of coral reefs is steadily increasing with ongoing climate change. Yet coral larvae settlement, a key mechanism of coral population rejuvenation and recovery, is largely understudied. Here, we show how the lipophilic, settlement-inducing bacterial pigment cycloprodigi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30470-w |
| _version_ | 1797864929589460992 |
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| author | Lars-Erik Petersen Matthias Y. Kellermann Laura J. Fiegel Samuel Nietzer Ulf Bickmeyer Doris Abele Peter J. Schupp |
| author_facet | Lars-Erik Petersen Matthias Y. Kellermann Laura J. Fiegel Samuel Nietzer Ulf Bickmeyer Doris Abele Peter J. Schupp |
| author_sort | Lars-Erik Petersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The global degradation of coral reefs is steadily increasing with ongoing climate change. Yet coral larvae settlement, a key mechanism of coral population rejuvenation and recovery, is largely understudied. Here, we show how the lipophilic, settlement-inducing bacterial pigment cycloprodigiosin (CYPRO) is actively harvested and subsequently enriched along the ectoderm of larvae of the scleractinian coral Leptastrea purpura. A light-dependent reaction transforms the CYPRO molecules through photolytic decomposition and provides a constant supply of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leading to attachment on the substrate and metamorphosis into a coral recruit. Micromolar concentrations of H2O2 in seawater also resulted in rapid metamorphosis, but without prior larval attachment. We propose that the morphogen CYPRO is responsible for initiating attachment while simultaneously acting as a molecular generator for the comprehensive metamorphosis of pelagic larvae. Ultimately, our approach opens a novel mechanistic dimension to the study of chemical signaling in coral settlement and provides unprecedented insights into the role of infochemicals in cross-kingdom interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:59:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c167219da3ef4cc19a5d4a4f9b3749d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:59:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-c167219da3ef4cc19a5d4a4f9b3749d82023-03-22T11:03:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-30470-wPhotodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlementLars-Erik Petersen0Matthias Y. Kellermann1Laura J. Fiegel2Samuel Nietzer3Ulf Bickmeyer4Doris Abele5Peter J. Schupp6Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgAlfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University OldenburgAbstract The global degradation of coral reefs is steadily increasing with ongoing climate change. Yet coral larvae settlement, a key mechanism of coral population rejuvenation and recovery, is largely understudied. Here, we show how the lipophilic, settlement-inducing bacterial pigment cycloprodigiosin (CYPRO) is actively harvested and subsequently enriched along the ectoderm of larvae of the scleractinian coral Leptastrea purpura. A light-dependent reaction transforms the CYPRO molecules through photolytic decomposition and provides a constant supply of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leading to attachment on the substrate and metamorphosis into a coral recruit. Micromolar concentrations of H2O2 in seawater also resulted in rapid metamorphosis, but without prior larval attachment. We propose that the morphogen CYPRO is responsible for initiating attachment while simultaneously acting as a molecular generator for the comprehensive metamorphosis of pelagic larvae. Ultimately, our approach opens a novel mechanistic dimension to the study of chemical signaling in coral settlement and provides unprecedented insights into the role of infochemicals in cross-kingdom interactions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30470-w |
| spellingShingle | Lars-Erik Petersen Matthias Y. Kellermann Laura J. Fiegel Samuel Nietzer Ulf Bickmeyer Doris Abele Peter J. Schupp Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement Scientific Reports |
| title | Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement |
| title_full | Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement |
| title_fullStr | Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement |
| title_short | Photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement |
| title_sort | photodegradation of a bacterial pigment and resulting hydrogen peroxide release enable coral settlement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30470-w |
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