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Huang C, Morlighem JÉR, Zhou H, Lima ÉP, Gomes PB, Cai J, Lou I, Pérez CD, Lee SM, Rádis-Baptista G. The Transcriptome of the Zoanthid Protopalythoa variabilis (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) Predicts a Basal Repertoire of Toxin-like and Venom-Auxiliary Polypeptides. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:3045-3064. [PMID: 27566758 PMCID: PMC5630949 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protopalythoa is a zoanthid that, together with thousands of predominantly marine species, such as hydra, jellyfish, and sea anemones, composes the oldest eumetazoan phylum, i.e., the Cnidaria. Some of these species, such as sea wasps and sea anemones, are highly venomous organisms that can produce deadly toxins for preying, for defense or for territorial disputes. Despite the fact that hundreds of organic and polypeptide toxins have been characterized from sea anemones and jellyfish, practically nothing is known about the toxin repertoire in zoanthids. Here, based on a transcriptome analysis of the zoanthid Protopalythoa variabilis, numerous predicted polypeptides with canonical venom protein features are identified. These polypeptides comprise putative proteins from different toxin families: neurotoxic peptides, hemostatic and hemorrhagic toxins, membrane-active (pore-forming) proteins, protease inhibitors, mixed-function venom enzymes, and venom auxiliary proteins. The synthesis and functional analysis of two of these predicted toxin products, one related to the ShK/Aurelin family and the other to a recently discovered anthozoan toxin, displayed potent in vivo neurotoxicity that impaired swimming in larval zebrafish. Altogether, the complex array of venom-related transcripts that are identified in P. variabilis, some of which are first reported in Cnidaria, provides novel insight into the toxin distribution among species and might contribute to the understanding of composition and evolution of venom polypeptides in toxiferous animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jean-Étienne Rl Morlighem
- Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Post-graduation program in Biotechnology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Hefeng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Érica P Lima
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitoria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil
| | - Paula B Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Jing Cai
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Inchio Lou
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Carlos D Pérez
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitoria, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, Brazil
| | - Simon Ming Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
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Silva JF, Gomes PB, Santana EC, Silva JM, Lima ÉP, Santos AMM, Pérez CD. Growth of the tropical zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) on reefs in northeastern Brazil. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2015; 87:985-96. [PMID: 25910172 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201520140475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazilian reefs, zoanthids, especially Palythoa caribaeorum are fundamental for structuring the local benthic community. The objective of this study was to determine the growth rate of P. caribaeorum, and to assess the influence of the site (different beaches), season (dry and wet), location (intertidal or infralittoral zones), and human pressure associated with tourism. For one year we monitored the cover of P. caribaeorum in transects and focused on 20 colonies. We cut off a square (100 cm2) from the central part of the colony and monitored the bare area for four months in each season. The average growth rates varied from 0.015 and 0.021 cm.day(-1). The rate was homogeneous in all localities, and there was no influence from colony site, location, or touristic visitation, showing that the growth velocity may be an intrinsic characteristic of the species, with a strong genetic component. The growth rate of P. caribaeorum differed among months, and peaked in the first month after injury. The average cover varied from 6.2 to 22.9% and was lower on the reef visited by tourists. The present study corroborates the hypothesis that P. caribaeorum is important for coastal reef dynamics due to its fast and continuous growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula B Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Erika C Santana
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - João M Silva
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Érica P Lima
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brasil
| | - Andre M M Santos
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brasil
| | - Carlos D Pérez
- Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brasil
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