21 documents found, page 1 of 3
Proteomic analysis of the mucus of the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia crispata
Lopes, Diana; Aveiro, Susana; Cruz, Sónia; Cartaxana, Paulo; Domingues, PedroElysia crispata is a tropical sea slug that can retain intracellular functional chloroplasts from its algae prey, a mechanism termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, like other gastropods, secretes mucus, a viscous secretion with multiple functions, including lubrication, protection, and locomotion. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the mucus proteome of the sea slug E. crispata using gel elec...
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Mucus of the...
Lopes, Diana; Cunha, Eva; Conde, Tiago; Moreira, Anthony; Cruz, Sónia; Domingues, Pedro; Oliveira, Manuela; Cartaxana, PauloElysia crispata (Sacoglossa, Gastropoda) is a tropical sea slug known for its ability to incorporate functional chloroplasts from a variety of green macroalgae, a phenomenon termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, amenable to laboratory cultivation, produces mucus, a viscous secretion that serves diverse purposes including protection, locomotion, and reproduction. In this study, we profiled the antimicrobial, antio...
Light modulates the lipidome of the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia timida
Rey, Felisa; Cartaxana, Paulo; Aveiro, Susana; Greenacre, Michael; Melo, Tânia; Domingues, Pedro; Domingues, M. Rosário; Cruz, SóniaLong-term kleptoplasty, the capability to retain functional stolen chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) for several weeks to months, has been shown in a handful of Sacoglossa sea slugs. One of these sea slugs is Elysia timida, endemic to the Mediterranean, which retains functional chloroplasts of the macroalga Acetabularia acetabulum. To understand how light modulates the lipidome of E. timida, sea slug specimens were s...
Prey species and abundance affect growth and photosynthetic performance of the ...
Cartaxana, Paulo; Morelli, Luca; Cassin, Elena; Havurinne, Vesa; Cabral, Miguel; Cruz, SóniaSome sacoglossan sea slugs steal functional macroalgal chloroplasts (kleptoplasts). In this study, we investigated the effects of algal prey species and abundance on the growth and photosynthetic capacity of the tropical polyphagous sea slug Elysia crispata. Recently hatched sea slugs fed and acquired chloroplasts from the macroalga Bryopsis plumosa, but not from Acetabularia acetabulum. However, adult sea slug...
Aposymbiotic Specimen of the Photosynthetic Sea Slug Elysia crispata
Cartaxana, Paulo; Lopes, Diana; Martinez, Begoña; Martins, Patrícia; Cruz, SóniaElysia crispata is a sacoglossan sea slug that retains intracellular, functional chloroplasts stolen from their macroalgal food sources. Elysia crispata juveniles start feeding on the algae following metamorphosis, engulfing chloroplasts and turning green. In laboratory-reared animals, we report one juvenile "albino" specimen unable to retain chloroplasts. Within 6 weeks post-metamorphosis, the aposymbiotic sea...
Photosynthetic pigment laser-induced fluorescence indicators for the detection ...
Cabrita, Maria Teresa; Gameiro, C.; Utkin, Andrei B.; Duarte, Bernardo; Caçador, Isabel; Cartaxana, PauloThis work reports changes on cell number, growth rate, trace element content, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and carotenoid concentrations, and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of Phaeodactylum tricornutum exposed to Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, and a mixture of all elements combined (Mix). The total levels of trace elements associated with the cells were significantly higher in the exposed than in control ones. ...
Regulation of Intertidal Microphytobenthos Photosynthesis Over a Diel Emersion ...
Cartaxana, Paulo; Cruz, Sónia; Gameiro, Carla; Kühl, MichaelChanges in biomass and photosynthesis of a diatom-dominated microphytobenthos (MPB) intertidal community were studied over a diel emersion period using a combination of O2 and scalar irradiance microprofiling, variable chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and pigment analysis. The MPB biomass in the photic zone (0-0.5 mm) of the sediment exposed to low irradiance (150 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1)) showed a >2-fold incre...
Effects of elevated temperature and CO2 on intertidal microphytobenthos
Cartaxana, Paulo; Vieira, Sónia; Ribeiro, Lourenço; Rocha, Rui JM; Cruz, Sónia; Calado, Ricardo; da Silva, Jorge MarquesBackground: Microphytobenthos (MPB) are the main primary producers of many intertidal and shallow subtidal environments. Although these coastal ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic activities, little is known on the effects of climate change variables on the structure and productivity of MPB communities. In this study, the effects of elevated temperature and CO2 on intertidal MPB biomass, spe...
Photoprotection in sequestered plastids of sea slugs and respective algal sources
Cruz, Sónia; Cartaxana, Paulo; Newcomer, Rebecca; Dionísio, Gisela; Calado, Ricardo; Serôdio, João; Pelletreau, Karen N.; Rumpho, Mary E.Some sea slugs are capable of retaining functional sequestered chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) for variable periods of time. The mechanisms supporting the maintenance of these organelles in animal hosts are still largely unknown. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and the occurrence of a xanthophyll cycle were investigated in the sea slugs Elysia viridis and E. chlorotica using chlorophyll fluorescence measurements ...
Development of a standardized modular system for experimental coral culture
Rocha, Rui J. M.; Bontas, Bogdan; Cartaxana, Paulo; Leal, Miguel C.; Ferreira, José M.; Rosa, Rui; Serôdio, João; Calado, RicardoThe increasing interest in coral culture for reef restoration, biotechnological applications, and to supply the marine aquarium trade has prompted researchers to optimize coral culture protocols, with emphasis on ex situ production. However, the diversity of experimental systems employed to investigate ex situ coral production may be a bottleneck to the advance of the state of the art, as it impairs reliable co...