Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis
The association between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates is one of the most well-known nutritional symbioses, but nowadays it is threatened by global changes. Nutritional exchanges are critical to understanding the performance of this symbiosis under stress conditions. Here, compound-specif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/182 |
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| author | Christine Ferrier-Pagès Stephane Martinez Renaud Grover Jonathan Cybulski Eli Shemesh Dan Tchernov |
| author_facet | Christine Ferrier-Pagès Stephane Martinez Renaud Grover Jonathan Cybulski Eli Shemesh Dan Tchernov |
| author_sort | Christine Ferrier-Pagès |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The association between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates is one of the most well-known nutritional symbioses, but nowadays it is threatened by global changes. Nutritional exchanges are critical to understanding the performance of this symbiosis under stress conditions. Here, compound-specific δ<sup>15</sup>N and δ<sup>13</sup>C values of amino acids (δ<sup>15</sup>N<sub>AA</sub> and δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>AA</sub>) were assessed in autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic holobionts as diagnostic tools to follow nutritional interactions between the partners. Contrary to what was expected, heterotrophy was mainly traced through the δ<sup>15</sup>N of the symbiont’s amino acids (AAs), suggesting that symbionts directly profit from host heterotrophy. The trophic index (TP) ranged from 1.1 to 2.3 from autotrophic to heterotrophic symbionts. In addition, changes in TP across conditions were more significant in the symbionts than in the host. The similar δ<sup>13</sup>C-AAs signatures of host and symbionts further suggests that symbiont-derived photosynthates are the main source of carbon for AAs synthesis. Symbionts, therefore, appear to be a key component in the AAs biosynthetic pathways, and might, via this obligatory function, play an essential role in the capacity of corals to withstand environmental stress. These novel findings highlight important aspects of the nutritional exchanges in the coral–dinoflagellates symbiosis. In addition, they feature δ<sup>15</sup>N<sub>AA</sub> as a useful tool for studies regarding the nutritional exchanges within the coral–symbiodiniaceae symbiosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:36:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6097f56abf242f995fc692158f82a16 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:36:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6097f56abf242f995fc692158f82a162023-12-03T13:28:15ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-01-019118210.3390/microorganisms9010182Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope AnalysisChristine Ferrier-Pagès0Stephane Martinez1Renaud Grover2Jonathan Cybulski3Eli Shemesh4Dan Tchernov5Coral Ecophysiology Team, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, MC-98000 Monaco, MonacoMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelCoral Ecophysiology Team, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, MC-98000 Monaco, MonacoThe Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Cape D’Aguilar Road, Shek O, Hong Kong, ChinaMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelMorris Kahn Marine Research Station, Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelThe association between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates is one of the most well-known nutritional symbioses, but nowadays it is threatened by global changes. Nutritional exchanges are critical to understanding the performance of this symbiosis under stress conditions. Here, compound-specific δ<sup>15</sup>N and δ<sup>13</sup>C values of amino acids (δ<sup>15</sup>N<sub>AA</sub> and δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>AA</sub>) were assessed in autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic holobionts as diagnostic tools to follow nutritional interactions between the partners. Contrary to what was expected, heterotrophy was mainly traced through the δ<sup>15</sup>N of the symbiont’s amino acids (AAs), suggesting that symbionts directly profit from host heterotrophy. The trophic index (TP) ranged from 1.1 to 2.3 from autotrophic to heterotrophic symbionts. In addition, changes in TP across conditions were more significant in the symbionts than in the host. The similar δ<sup>13</sup>C-AAs signatures of host and symbionts further suggests that symbiont-derived photosynthates are the main source of carbon for AAs synthesis. Symbionts, therefore, appear to be a key component in the AAs biosynthetic pathways, and might, via this obligatory function, play an essential role in the capacity of corals to withstand environmental stress. These novel findings highlight important aspects of the nutritional exchanges in the coral–dinoflagellates symbiosis. In addition, they feature δ<sup>15</sup>N<sub>AA</sub> as a useful tool for studies regarding the nutritional exchanges within the coral–symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/182coraldinoflagellateSymbiodiniaceacompound specific isotope analysis of amino acidsheterotrophy |
| spellingShingle | Christine Ferrier-Pagès Stephane Martinez Renaud Grover Jonathan Cybulski Eli Shemesh Dan Tchernov Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis Microorganisms coral dinoflagellate Symbiodiniacea compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids heterotrophy |
| title | Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_full | Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_short | Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis |
| title_sort | tracing the trophic plasticity of the coral dinoflagellate symbiosis using amino acid compound specific stable isotope analysis |
| topic | coral dinoflagellate Symbiodiniacea compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids heterotrophy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/182 |
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