Wu, Yu-Chen, Garcia-Altares, Maria, Pintó, Berta, Ribes, Marta, Hentschel, Ute and Pita, Lucia (2020) Opisthobranch grazing results in mobilisation of spherulous cells and re-allocation of secondary metabolites in the sponge Aplysina aerophoba. Scientific Reports, 10 . Art.Nr. 21934. DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-78667-7.

Preview	Text s41598-020-78667-7.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0. Download (5MB) | Preview
Preview	Text media-1.pdf - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0. Download (882kB) | Preview
	Video media-2.mp4 - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0. Download (5MB)

Abstract

Sponges thrive in marine benthic communities due to their specific and diverse chemical arsenal against predators and competitors. Yet, some animals specifically overcome these defences and use sponges as food and home. Most research on sponge chemical ecology has characterised crude extracts and investigated defences against generalist predators like fish. Consequently, we know little about chemical dynamics in the tissue and responses to specialist grazers. Here, we studied the response of the sponge Aplysina aerophoba to grazing by the opisthobranch Tylodina perversa, in comparison to mechanical damage, at the cellular (via microscopy) and chemical level (via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry, MALDI-imaging MS). We characterised the distribution of two major brominated alkaloids in A. aerophoba, aerophobin-2 and aeroplysinin-1, and identified a generalised wounding response that was similar in both wounding treatments: (i) brominated compound-carrying cells (spherulous cells) accumulated at the wound and (ii) secondary metabolites reallocated to the sponge surface. Upon mechanical damage, the wound turned dark due to oxidised compounds, causing T. perversa deterrence. During grazing, T. perversa’s way of feeding prevented oxidation. Thus, the sponge has not evolved a specific response to this specialist predator, but rather relies on rapid regeneration and flexible allocation of constitutive defences.

Available Versions of this Item

• Grazing results in mobilization of spherulous cells and re-allocation of secondary metabolites to the surface in the sponge Aplysina aerophoba (deposited 24 Nov 2020 14:04)
  • Opisthobranch grazing results in mobilisation of spherulous cells and re-allocation of secondary metabolites in the sponge Aplysina aerophoba (deposited 18 Dec 2020 13:28) [Currently Displayed]

Actions (login required)

View Item