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Endosymbiosis
Endosymbiosis
Background:
Background:
Endosymbiosis is a symbiotic relationship between two different organisms in which one organism lives within the other. It is a key event in the evolution of life on Earth, and it has had significant impacts on the diversity and complexity of life.
The dinoflagellate algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae forms a symbiotic relationship with many cnidarian hosts including coral, anemones, and jellyfish. Enclosed within the gastrodermal tissue (inner cell layer of the gut and tentacles), the symbiont algae provide coral with photosynthetically fixed carbon while the coral supplies the algae with inorganic nutrients and a haven from predation.
Little is known about the mechanisms governing the establishment, maintenance and breakdown of the coral-dinoflagellate interaction.
Little is known about the mechanisms governing the establishment, maintenance and breakdown of the coral-dinoflagellate interaction.
Nutrient exchange
Nutrient exchange
Symbiosis establishment
Symbiosis establishment
Questions:
Questions:
(1) What are the molecular components necessarily for the establishment and maintenance of coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis?
(1) What are the molecular components necessarily for the establishment and maintenance of coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis?
(2) How is the nutrient homeostasis maintained in dinoflagellate-coral symbiosis?
(2) How is the nutrient homeostasis maintained in dinoflagellate-coral symbiosis?
(3) What is the molecular mechanisms that underlie algal symbiont population control in the host tissue?
(3) What is the molecular mechanisms that underlie algal symbiont population control in the host tissue?
Functional genomics in Symbiodiniaceae:
Functional genomics in Symbiodiniaceae:
Mutagenesis strategies that disrupt gene function have been transformative for biological discovery in many organisms. We apply a UV mutagenesis approach coupled with high-throughput screening methods to discover Symbiodiniaceae mutants with desired phenotypes. We have created photosynthetic mutants (Jinkerson, et al;, 2022), which demonstrate the power of generating mutants with a specific dysfunction phenotype and using that to answer key questions in symbiosis.
Mutagenesis strategies that disrupt gene function have been transformative for biological discovery in many organisms. We apply a UV mutagenesis approach coupled with high-throughput screening methods to discover Symbiodiniaceae mutants with desired phenotypes. We have created photosynthetic mutants (Jinkerson, et al;, 2022), which demonstrate the power of generating mutants with a specific dysfunction phenotype and using that to answer key questions in symbiosis.
Model systems:
Model systems:
- Aiptasia
We have been developing a proxy system for examining the coral mutualism in which the dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodiniaceae is introduced into a clonal population of the host Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida), a small sea anemone closely related to corals.
We have been developing a proxy system for examining the coral mutualism in which the dinoflagellate symbiont Symbiodiniaceae is introduced into a clonal population of the host Aiptasia (Exaiptasia pallida), a small sea anemone closely related to corals.
- With clonal populations both of the Aiptasia anemone host and of the potential symbionts, we can remove the confounding factor of genetic heterogeneity from our studies.
- With axenic Symbiodiniaceae cultures, we can also remove the interference that contaminants could otherwise contribute to the dynamics of symbiosis establishment and maintenance.
- The generation of clonal and axenic Symbiodiniaceae cultures has allowed us to move toward our goal of developing a model system in which we can study the cnidarian and dinoflagellate components of the symbiosis both separately and together.
- Cassiopea
The upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana is an emerging model system to study its interaction with the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate algae in the family of Symbiodiniaceae.
- Coral
The stony coral Acropora tenuis, natively hosting Symbiodinium tridacnidorum as the dominant symbiont type in the juvenile stage, has also been shown to form a symbiotic relationship with Symbiodiniaceae algae. We use aposymbiotic coral larvae and polyps from this species to evaluate symbiosis establishment in this host.
- Ciliates
Some ciliates also form symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae algae, and we use them to study the mechanisms underlying symbiosis establishment.
Toxin biosynthesis in red-tide dinoflagellates
Toxin biosynthesis in red-tide dinoflagellates
The red-tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis causes harmful algal bloom and produces neurotoxins that poison marine animals as well as humans. The frequency of coral bleaching and red tide is increasing in the world.
The red-tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis causes harmful algal bloom and produces neurotoxins that poison marine animals as well as humans. The frequency of coral bleaching and red tide is increasing in the world.
What are the metabolic pathways controlling the biosynthesis of the neurotoxins in red-tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis?
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