the creation of a photosynthetic animal
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The Creation of a Photosynthetic Animal. Group A17 Brandon Coogler, Kari Lien, Danesh Shamsi. Organism Backgrounds. Consumer - Elysia chlorotica (Sea Slug) Born as a heterotroph Develops the ability to be autotrophic Can survive up to 10 months without - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Creation of a
Photosynthetic Animal
Group A17Brandon Coogler, Kari Lien, Danesh
Shamsi
Organism Backgrounds Consumer - Elysia chlorotica (Sea Slug)
Born as a heterotroph
Develops the ability to be autotrophic
Can survive up to 10 months without
eating due to developed autotrophic
nature
Producer – Vaucheria litorea (Algae Species) Autotrophic
Gives chloroplasts to Elysia chlorotica
Rumpho M E et al. J Exp Biol 2011http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.cfm?med_id=68806&from=mmg
Important Concepts The process of Endosymbiosis
The occurrence of Kleptoplasty
Horizontal Gene Transfer: Referred to as HGT
Nuclear DNA
Transcriptome
(Freeman 2011)
The Process
Rumpho M E et al. J Exp Biol 2011
Life Cycle of Elysia chlorotica
Process of Endosymbiosis and Kleptoplasty
DataProtein Category Total Number of Slug Transcript
Read Matches
Photosystem I Reaction Center
1556
Photosystem II Reaction Center
4574
RubBisCO 48
Cytochrome Synthesis 896
Chlorophyll Synthesis 215
ATP Synthesis or Binding 363
Table 1. Sample of Sea Slug Transcriptome Read Matches (Chloroplast-Encoded Transcripts)
Table 2. Sample of Algal Nuclear-Encoded Transcripts Identified in E. chlorotica TranscriptomeProtein Identity E. chlorotica / V. litorea Sequence
Matches
Phosphoribulokinase 90/90
Light Harvesting Complex Protein
90/90
Transketolase 90/90
Cellulase 2 90/90 and 85/85Pierce et al. 2011
Discussion Chloroplasts are retained through digestion
(kleptoplasty) However, that is not all that is retained.
Data from the transcriptome shows that Algal nuclear genes are retained in Elysia chlorotica individuals This occurs by HGT
These transferred nuclear genes allow for necessary protein production to support chloroplasts (kleptoplasts)
This establishes a symbiotic relationshipPierce et al. 2011Rumpho M E et al. J Exp Biol 2011
ConclusionElysia chlorotica can support chloroplasts inside their body by producing the necessary proteins due to horizontal gene transfer; this shows that horizontal gene transfer can drastically affect the way an organism lives, behaves and functions due to alterations in protein synthesis.
http://www.jayhosler.com/jshblog/?p=334
Works CitedCurtis, Nicholas E., and Ray Martinez. "Research Areas." US NSF. University of South Florida, 2009. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.cfm?med_id=68806>.
Freeman, Scott, and Healy Hamilton. Biological Science. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.
Hosler, Jay. "The Field Guide to Super Powers #1: The Parasite and Elysia Chlorotica." Drawing Flies. N.p., 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.jayhosler.com/jshblog/?p=334>.
Mary E. Rumpho, Karen N. Pelletreau, Ahmed Moustafa, and Debashish Bhattacharya, 2011. The making of a photosynthetic animal. J. Exp. Biol. 214: 303-311.
Pierce SK, Fang X, Schwartz JA, Jiang X, Zhao W, Curtis NE, Kocot KM, Yang B, Wang J. 2012. Transcriptomic evidence for the expression of horizontally transferred algal nuclear genes in the photosynthetic sea slug, Elysia chlorotica. Mol Biol Evol. 29(6):1545-56.