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The complete mitochondrial genome of the photosymbiotic sea slug Berghia stephanieae (Valdes, 2005) (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia).

ABSTRACT: Berghia stephanieae (Nudibranchia, Cladobranchia) is a photosymbiotic sea slug that feeds exclusively on sea anemones from the genus Exaiptasia. It then specifically incorporates dinoflagellates belonging to the Symbiodiniaceae obtained from their prey. Here, we present the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of B. stephanieae combining Oxford Nanopore long read and Illumina short-read sequencing data. The mitochondrial genome has a total length of 14,786 bp, it contains the 13 protein-encoding genes, 23 tRNAs, and two rRNAs and is similar to other nudibranchs except for the presence of a duplicated tRNA-Ser 1.

SUBMITTER: Melo Clavijo J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8279152 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundIntracellular sequestration requires specialized cellular and molecular mechanisms allowing a predator to retain and use specific organelles that once belonged to its prey. Little is known about how common cellular mechanisms, like phagocytosis, can be modified to selectively internalize and store foreign structures. One form of defensive sequestration involves animals that sequester stinging organelles (nematocysts) from their cnidarian prey. While it has been hypothesized that nematocysts are identified by specialized phagocytic cells for internalization and storage, little is known about the cellular and developmental mechanisms of this process in any metazoan lineage. This knowledge gap is mainly due to a lack of genetically tractable model systems among predators and their cnidarian prey.ResultsHere, we introduce the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae as a model system to investigate the cell, developmental, and physiological features of nematocyst sequestration selectivity. We first show that B. stephanieae, which feeds on Exaiptasia diaphana, selectively sequesters nematocysts over other E. diaphana tissues found in their digestive gland. Using confocal microscopy, we document that nematocyst sequestration begins shortly after feeding and prior to the formation of the appendages (cerata) where the organ responsible for sequestration (the cnidosac) resides in adults. This finding is inconsistent with previous studies that place the formation of the cnidosac after cerata emerge. Our results also show, via live imaging assays, that both nematocysts and dinoflagellates can enter the nascent cnidosac structure. This result indicates that selectivity for nematocysts occurs inside the cnidosac in B. stephanieae, likely in the cnidophage cells themselves.ConclusionsOur work highlights the utility of B. stephanieae for future research, because: (1) this species can be cultured in the laboratory, which provides access to all developmental stages, and (2) the transparency of early juveniles makes imaging techniques (and therefore cell and molecular assays) feasible. Our results pave the way for future studies using live imaging and targeted gene editing to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in nematocyst sequestration. Further studies of nematocyst sequestration in B. stephanieae will also allow us to investigate how common cellular mechanisms like phagocytosis can be modified to selectively internalize and store foreign structures.

Dataset Information

The complete mitochondrial genome of the photosymbiotic sea slug Berghia stephanieae (Valdes, 2005) (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia).

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