Chemical Recognition and Nematocyte Excitation in a Sea Anemone
نویسندگان
چکیده
The response of nematocytes in the anemone Stichodactyla haddoni to contact with complex organic compounds varies according to the 9ubstance concerned and in most cases according to the level of accompanying mechanical stimulation. Compounds with a proteinaceous moiety differ in their capacity to excite nematocytes, but usually tend to induce a stronger response than polysaccharides or lipids. Nematocyst discharge against foreign animals appears to be the result of a sophisticated cellular recognition process in which the nematocytes, and/or cells closely associated with them, respond to physical contact with a surface of appropriate chemical composition.
منابع مشابه
Clone-specific cellular recognition in a sea anemone.
A highly specific cellular recognition system, capable of distinguishing between syngeneic and allogeneic tissue, exists in Anthopleura elegantissima, a sea anemone that lives in clonal colonies and attacks foreign clones. During the attack, specialized surface protrusions (acrorhagi) are used for stinging. The recognition process was studied by presenting various tissues to the surface of infl...
متن کاملNeurotoxin localization to ectodermal gland cells uncovers an alternative mechanism of venom delivery in sea anemones.
Jellyfish, hydras, corals and sea anemones (phylum Cnidaria) are known for their venomous stinging cells, nematocytes, used for prey and defence. Here we show, however, that the potent Type I neurotoxin of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, Nv1, is confined to ectodermal gland cells rather than nematocytes. We demonstrate massive Nv1 secretion upon encounter with a crustacean prey. Concomi...
متن کاملWhat Hydra can teach us about chemical ecology -how a simple, soft organism survives in a hostile aqueous environment.
Hydra and its fellow cnidarians - sea anemones, corals and jellyfish - are simple, mostly sessile animals that depend on bioactive chemicals for survival. In this review, we briefly describe what is known about the chemical armament of Hydra, and detail future research directions where Hydra can help illuminate major questions in chemical ecology, pharmacology, developmental biology and evoluti...
متن کاملSpecific growth rate and mitotic index in dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. isolateed from sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni
The cultivation techniques of dinoflagellates is often problematic due to their sensitivity to hydrodynamic (shear) stress. For this study, sea anemone was collected from the east coast of Hormuz Island. First, we extracted symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp. from Stichodactylla haddoni using manually homogenization. After transferring to the laboratory, samples were cultured in differen...
متن کاملToxicity and Potential Pharmacological Activities in the Persian Gulf Venomous Sea Anemone, Stichodactyla haddoni
Numerous proteins and peptides in venomous marine animals are potentially active molecules with pharmacological properties. Particular condition of the Persian Gulf as a closed ecosystem is a good opportunity to study of biological activities and toxicity of venomous animals. In this study, Stichodactyla haddoni (S. haddoni), a sea anemone, selected to tracing for possible pharmaceutical agents...
متن کامل