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Comparison of sister species identifies factors underpinning plastid compatibility in green sea slugs
de Vries, J.; Woehle, C.; Christa, G.-; Wägele, H.; Tielens, A.G.M.; Jahns, P.; Gould, S.B. (2015). Comparison of sister species identifies factors underpinning plastid compatibility in green sea slugs. Proc. - Royal Soc., Biol. Sci. 282(20142519): 10 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.2519
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. The Royal Society: London. ISSN 0962-8452; e-ISSN 1471-2954, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Sacoglossa [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    invertebrates Sacoglossa Kleptoplasty reactive oxygen species starvation photosynthetic slugs

Authors  Top 
  • de Vries, J.
  • Woehle, C.
  • Christa, G.-
  • Wägele, H.
  • Tielens, A.G.M.
  • Jahns, P.
  • Gould, S.B.

Abstract
    The only animal cells known that can maintain functional plastids (kleptoplasts) in their cytosol occur in the digestive gland epithelia of sacoglossan slugs. Only a few species of the many hundred known can profit from kleptoplasty during starvation long-term, but why is not understood. The two sister taxa Elysia cornigera and Elysia timida sequester plastids from the same algal species, but with a very different outcome: while E. cornigera usually dies within the first two weeks when deprived of food, E. timida can survive for many months to come. Here we compare the responses of the two slugs to starvation, blocked photosynthesis and light stress. The two species respond differently, but in both starvation is the main denominator that alters global gene expression profiles. The kleptoplasts' ability to fix CO2 decreases at a similar rate in both slugs during starvation, but only E. cornigera individuals die in the presence of functional kleptoplasts, concomitant with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the digestive tract. We show that profiting from the acquisition of robust plastids, and key to E. timida's longer survival, is determined by an increased starvation tolerance that keeps ROS levels at bay.

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