Project description:Molecular characterisation of the syntype of Botrylloides crystallinus n. sp. (Tunicata, Ascidiacea, Styelidae) from Mediterranean Sea
Project description:BackgroundThe checklist of the ascidian fauna (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) of Greece was compiled within the framework of the Greek Taxon Information System (GTIS), an application of the LifeWatchGreece Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) aiming to produce a complete checklist of species recorded from Greece. This checklist was constructed by updating an existing one with the inclusion of recently published records. All the reported species from Greek waters were taxonomically revised and cross-checked with the Ascidiacea World Database.New informationThe updated checklist of the class Ascidiacea of Greece comprises 75 species, classified in 33 genera, 12 families, and 3 orders. In total, 8 species have been added to the previous species list (4 Aplousobranchia, 2 Phlebobranchia, and 2 Stolidobranchia). Aplousobranchia was the most speciose order, followed by Stolidobranchia. Most species belonged to the families Didemnidae, Polyclinidae, Pyuridae, Ascidiidae, and Styelidae; these 4 families comprise 76% of the Greek ascidian species richness. The present effort revealed the limited taxonomic research effort devoted to the ascidian fauna of Greece, which is attributed to the lack of experts and low sampling effort. Therefore, major knowledge gaps on the ascidian diversity of Greece occur and further research in this field is needed.
Project description:This study is the first inventory of ascidians from shallow waters (0-25 m) of coastal and reef habitats in the southern Gulf of Mexico where ascidian diversity is poorly known. Sampled environments in 14 locations (38 sites) with 134 samples collected from 2015 to 2017 included coral reefs, coastal lagoons, mangroves, seagrass, ports, and artificial platforms. The 31 identified species comprise 19 genera and 13 families. Ten species are newly reported in the Gulf of Mexico: Ascidiapanamensis Bonnet & Rocha, 2011; Ecteinascidiastyeloides (Traustedt, 1882); Cystodytesroseolus Hartmeyer, 1912; Eudistomaaff.amanitum Paiva & Rocha, 2018; Eudistomarecifense Millar, 1977; Euherdmaniafasciculata Monniot, 1983; Euherdmaniaaff.vitrea Millar, 1961; Polycarpacartilaginea (Sluiter, 1885); Botrylloidesmagnicoecum (Hartmeyer, 1912) and Didemnumgranulatum Tokioka, 1954. Two new species will be described separately (Clavelina sp. and Pyura sp.). This study provides the first records for 26 species ascidians for the region as well as describes increased distributions of ten Atlantic species. Thus, our data provide a starting point for future ecological, experimental and taxonomic studies of ascidians of the Gulf of Mexico.
Project description:Genome mining and identification of natural product gene clusters typically relies on the presence of canonical nonribosomal polypeptide synthetase (NRPS) or polyketide synthase (PKS) domains. Recently, other condensation enzymes, such as the ATP-grasp ligases, have been recognized as important players in natural product biosynthesis. In this study, sequence based searching for homologues of DdaF, the ATP-grasp amide ligase from dapdiamide biosynthesis, led to the identification of a previously unannotated biosynthetic gene cluster in Pseudoalteromonas tunicata. Heterologous expression of the cluster in Escherichia coli allowed for the production and structure determination of two new 3-formyl tyrosine metabolites.