Characterisation of nitric oxide synthase in three cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses
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Characterisation of nitric oxide synthase in three cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses. / Safavi-Hemami, Helena; Young, Neil D; Doyle, Jason; Llewellyn, Lyndon; Klueter, Anke.
I: PLoS ONE, Bind 5, Nr. 4, 28.04.2010, s. e10379.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterisation of nitric oxide synthase in three cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbioses
AU - Safavi-Hemami, Helena
AU - Young, Neil D
AU - Doyle, Jason
AU - Llewellyn, Lyndon
AU - Klueter, Anke
PY - 2010/4/28
Y1 - 2010/4/28
N2 - BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an enzyme catalysing the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline and nitric oxide (NO), the latter being an essential messenger molecule for a range of biological processes. Whilst its role in higher vertebrates is well understood little is known about the role of this enzyme in early metazoan groups. For instance, NOS-mediated signalling has been associated with Cnidaria-algal symbioses, however controversy remains about the contribution of enzyme activities by the individual partners of these mutualistic relationships.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a modified citrulline assay we successfully measured NOS activity in three cnidarian-algal symbioses: the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida, the hard coral Acropora millepora, and the soft coral Lobophytum pauciflorum, so demonstrating a wide distribution of this enzyme in the phylum Cnidaria. Further biochemical (citrulline assay) and histochemical (NADPH-diaphorase) investigations of NOS in the host tissue of L. pauciflorum revealed the cytosolic and calcium dependent nature of this enzyme and its in situ localisation within the coral's gastrodermal tissue, the innermost layer of the body wall bearing the symbiotic algae. Interestingly, enzyme activity could not be detected in symbionts freshly isolated from the cnidarians, or in cultured algal symbionts.CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that NOS-mediated NO release may be host-derived, a finding that has the potential to further refine our understanding of signalling events in cnidarian-algal symbioses.
AB - BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an enzyme catalysing the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline and nitric oxide (NO), the latter being an essential messenger molecule for a range of biological processes. Whilst its role in higher vertebrates is well understood little is known about the role of this enzyme in early metazoan groups. For instance, NOS-mediated signalling has been associated with Cnidaria-algal symbioses, however controversy remains about the contribution of enzyme activities by the individual partners of these mutualistic relationships.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a modified citrulline assay we successfully measured NOS activity in three cnidarian-algal symbioses: the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida, the hard coral Acropora millepora, and the soft coral Lobophytum pauciflorum, so demonstrating a wide distribution of this enzyme in the phylum Cnidaria. Further biochemical (citrulline assay) and histochemical (NADPH-diaphorase) investigations of NOS in the host tissue of L. pauciflorum revealed the cytosolic and calcium dependent nature of this enzyme and its in situ localisation within the coral's gastrodermal tissue, the innermost layer of the body wall bearing the symbiotic algae. Interestingly, enzyme activity could not be detected in symbionts freshly isolated from the cnidarians, or in cultured algal symbionts.CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that NOS-mediated NO release may be host-derived, a finding that has the potential to further refine our understanding of signalling events in cnidarian-algal symbioses.
KW - Animals
KW - Anthozoa
KW - Cnidaria/enzymology
KW - Dinoflagellida/enzymology
KW - Nitric Oxide/metabolism
KW - Nitric Oxide Synthase/analysis
KW - Sea Anemones
KW - Symbiosis
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0010379
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0010379
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20442851
VL - 5
SP - e10379
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 232825250