Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae
Sacoglossan sea slugs are able to maintain functional chloroplasts inside their own cells, and mechanisms that allow preservation of the chloroplasts are unknown. We found that the slug Elysia timida induces changes to the photosynthetic light reactions of the chloroplasts it steals from the alga Ac...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2020-10-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/57389 |
| _version_ | 1811236154670841856 |
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| author | Vesa Havurinne Esa Tyystjärvi |
| author_facet | Vesa Havurinne Esa Tyystjärvi |
| author_sort | Vesa Havurinne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sacoglossan sea slugs are able to maintain functional chloroplasts inside their own cells, and mechanisms that allow preservation of the chloroplasts are unknown. We found that the slug Elysia timida induces changes to the photosynthetic light reactions of the chloroplasts it steals from the alga Acetabularia acetabulum. Working with a large continuous laboratory culture of both the slugs (>500 individuals) and their prey algae, we show that the plastoquinone pool of slug chloroplasts remains oxidized, which can suppress reactive oxygen species formation. Slug chloroplasts also rapidly build up a strong proton-motive force upon a dark-to-light transition, which helps them to rapidly switch on photoprotective non-photochemical quenching of excitation energy. Finally, our results suggest that chloroplasts inside E. timida rely on oxygen-dependent electron sinks during rapid changes in light intensity. These photoprotective mechanisms are expected to contribute to the long-term functionality of the chloroplasts inside the slugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:04:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd09acc0879d4714bb1681494e04a7d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:04:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd09acc0879d4714bb1681494e04a7d82022-12-22T03:33:46ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2020-10-01910.7554/eLife.57389Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algaeVesa Havurinne0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5213-0905Esa Tyystjärvi1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6808-7470University of Turku, Department of Biochemistry / Molecular Plant Biology, Turku, FinlandUniversity of Turku, Department of Biochemistry / Molecular Plant Biology, Turku, FinlandSacoglossan sea slugs are able to maintain functional chloroplasts inside their own cells, and mechanisms that allow preservation of the chloroplasts are unknown. We found that the slug Elysia timida induces changes to the photosynthetic light reactions of the chloroplasts it steals from the alga Acetabularia acetabulum. Working with a large continuous laboratory culture of both the slugs (>500 individuals) and their prey algae, we show that the plastoquinone pool of slug chloroplasts remains oxidized, which can suppress reactive oxygen species formation. Slug chloroplasts also rapidly build up a strong proton-motive force upon a dark-to-light transition, which helps them to rapidly switch on photoprotective non-photochemical quenching of excitation energy. Finally, our results suggest that chloroplasts inside E. timida rely on oxygen-dependent electron sinks during rapid changes in light intensity. These photoprotective mechanisms are expected to contribute to the long-term functionality of the chloroplasts inside the slugs.https://elifesciences.org/articles/57389Acetabularia acetabulumbiophysicsElysia timidagreen algaekleptoplastyphotosynthetic sea slugs |
| spellingShingle | Vesa Havurinne Esa Tyystjärvi Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae eLife Acetabularia acetabulum biophysics Elysia timida green algae kleptoplasty photosynthetic sea slugs |
| title | Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae |
| title_full | Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae |
| title_fullStr | Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae |
| title_short | Photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae |
| title_sort | photosynthetic sea slugs induce protective changes to the light reactions of the chloroplasts they steal from algae |
| topic | Acetabularia acetabulum biophysics Elysia timida green algae kleptoplasty photosynthetic sea slugs |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/57389 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vesahavurinne photosyntheticseaslugsinduceprotectivechangestothelightreactionsofthechloroplaststheystealfromalgae AT esatyystjarvi photosyntheticseaslugsinduceprotectivechangestothelightreactionsofthechloroplaststheystealfromalgae |