Dataset Information

Characterization of the core elements of the NF-?B signaling pathway of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.

ABSTRACT: The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is the leading developmental and genomic model for the phylum Cnidaria, which includes anemones, hydras, jellyfish, and corals. In insects and vertebrates, the NF-?B pathway is required for cellular and organismal responses to various stresses, including pathogens and chemicals, as well as for several developmental processes. Herein, we have characterized proteins that comprise the core NF-?B pathway in Nematostella, including homologs of NF-?B, I?B, Bcl-3, and I?B kinase (IKK). We show that N. vectensis NF-?B (Nv-NF-?B) can bind to ?B sites and activate transcription of reporter genes containing multimeric ?B sites or the Nv-I?B promoter. Both Nv-I?B and Nv-Bcl-3 interact with Nv-NF-?B and block its ability to activate reporter gene expression. Nv-IKK is most similar to human IKK?/TBK kinases and, in vitro, can phosphorylate Ser47 of Nv-I?B. Nv-NF-?B is expressed in a subset of ectodermal cells in juvenile and adult Nematostella anemones. A bioinformatic analysis suggests that homologs of many mammalian NF-?B target genes are targets for Nv-NF-?B, including genes involved in apoptosis and responses to organic compounds and endogenous stimuli. These results indicate that NF-?B pathway proteins in Nematostella are similar to their vertebrate homologs, and these results also provide a framework for understanding the evolutionary origins of NF-?B signaling.

SUBMITTER: Wolenski FS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3067825 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characterization of the core elements of the NF-κB signaling pathway of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.

Wolenski Francis S FS Garbati Michael R MR Lubinski Tristan J TJ Traylor-Knowles Nikki N Dresselhaus Erica E Stefanik Derek J DJ Goucher Haley H Finnerty John R JR Gilmore Thomas D TD

Molecular and cellular biology 20101228 5

The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is the leading developmental and genomic model for the phylum Cnidaria, which includes anemones, hydras, jellyfish, and corals. In insects and vertebrates, the NF-κB pathway is required for cellular and organismal responses to various stresses, including pathogens and chemicals, as well as for several developmental processes. Herein, we have characterized proteins that comprise the core NF-κB pathway in Nematostella, including homologs of NF-κB, IκB, Bcl-3, ...[more]

PMID: 21189285

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Project description:BackgroundAlthough much is known about how circadian systems control daily cycles in the physiology and behavior of Drosophila and several vertebrate models, marine invertebrates have often been overlooked in circadian rhythms research. This study focuses on the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, a species that has received increasing attention within the scientific community for its potential as a model research organism. The recently sequenced genome of N. vectensis makes it an especially attractive model for exploring the molecular evolution of circadian behavior. Critical behavioral data needed to correlate gene expression patterns to specific behaviors are currently lacking in N. vectensis.Methodology/principal findingsTo detect the presence of behavioral oscillations in N. vectensis, locomotor activity was evaluated using an automated system in an environmentally controlled chamber. Animals exposed to a 24 hr photoperiod (12 hr light: 12 hr dark) exhibited locomotor behavior that was both rhythmic and predominantly nocturnal. The activity peak occurred in the early half of the night with a 2-fold increase in locomotion. Upon transfer to constant lighting conditions (constant light or constant dark), an approximately 24 hr rhythm persisted in most animals, suggesting that the rhythm is controlled by an endogenous circadian mechanism. Fourier analysis revealed the presence of multiple peaks in some animals suggesting additional rhythmic components could be present. In particular, an approximately 12 hr oscillation was often observed. The nocturnal increase in generalized locomotion corresponded to a 24 hr oscillation in animal elongation.Conclusions/significanceThese data confirm the presence of a light-entrainable circadian clock in Nematostella vectensis. Additional components observed in some individuals indicate that an endogenous clock of approximately 12 hr frequency may also be present. By describing rhythmic locomotor behavior in N. vectensis, we have made important progress in developing the sea anemone as a model organism for circadian rhythm research.

Project description:Most multicellular organisms harbor microbial colonizers that provide various benefits to their hosts. Although these microbial communities may be host species- or even genotype-specific, the associated bacterial communities can respond plastically to environmental changes. In this study, we estimated the relative contribution of environment and host genotype to bacterial community composition in Nematostella vectensis, an estuarine cnidarian. We sampled N. vectensis polyps from 5 different populations along a north-south gradient on the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada. In addition, we sampled 3 populations at 3 different times of the year. While half of the polyps were immediately analyzed for their bacterial composition by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the remaining polyps were cultured under laboratory conditions for 1 month. Bacterial community comparison analyses revealed that laboratory maintenance reduced bacterial diversity by 4-fold, but maintained a population-specific bacterial colonization. Interestingly, the differences between bacterial communities correlated strongly with seasonal variations, especially with ambient water temperature. To decipher the contribution of both ambient temperature and host genotype to bacterial colonization, we generated 12 clonal lines from 6 different populations in order to maintain each genotype at 3 different temperatures for 3 months. The bacterial community composition of the same N. vectensis clone differed greatly between the 3 different temperatures, highlighting the contribution of ambient temperature to bacterial community composition. To a lesser extent, bacterial community composition varied between different genotypes under identical conditions, indicating the influence of host genotype. In addition, we identified a significant genotype x environment interaction determining microbiota plasticity in N. vectensis. From our results we can conclude that N. vectensis-associated bacterial communities respond plastically to changes in ambient temperature, with the association of different bacterial taxa depending in part on the host genotype. Future research will reveal how this genotype-specific microbiota plasticity affects the ability to cope with changing environmental conditions.

Dataset Information

Characterization of the core elements of the NF-?B signaling pathway of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.

Publications

Characterization of the core elements of the NF-κB signaling pathway of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis.

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