Publicação
Mucus of the sea slug Elysia crispata: contribution of kleptoplasts photosynthesis, biochemical characterization and applications
| Resumo: | Sacoglossan sea slugs are the only animals known to retain long-term functional chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) within their cells, obtained from their algal prey. In this thesis, cross-disciplinary studies on the tropical sea slug Elysia crispata are presented, encompassing laboratory cultivation methods, mucus production and composition, and biological activities of its secretions. A standardized protocol for laboratory culture of E. crispata was established, enabling successful rearing across multiple generations, promoting ethical animal research, experimental reproducibility, and conservation biology. Investigation of kleptoplast photosynthesis revealed that animals maintained under regular light produced substantially more mucus as a stress response, with higher carbohydrate content, compared to those reared in quasi-dark conditions. Carbohydrate composition analysis, coupled with 13C isotopelabeled experiments, demonstrated direct contribution of kleptoplast photosynthesis to mucus production and composition. Proteomic characterization of the mucus identified 306 distinct proteins involved in different mechanisms such as hydrolase activity (molecular function), carbohydrate-derived metabolic processes (biological processes) and cytoskeletal organization (cell component). Biological activity assays revealed significant antimicrobial effects, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, including notable inhibition of the WHO-classified high-priority pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were identified, primarily associated with the low molecular weight mucus fractions. This comprehensive research provides novel insights into the biology of kleptoplast-bearing sea slugs and identifies in the mucus promising bioactive compounds for therapeutic development, while contributing significantly to our understanding of animal-chloroplast symbiotic associations. |
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| Autores principais: | Lopes, Diana Domingues |
| Assunto: | Animal rearing Antibacterial activity Carbohydrates Kleptoplasty Proteins Sacoglossa |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | tese de doutoramento |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Aveiro |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro |
| Resumo: | Sacoglossan sea slugs are the only animals known to retain long-term functional chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) within their cells, obtained from their algal prey. In this thesis, cross-disciplinary studies on the tropical sea slug Elysia crispata are presented, encompassing laboratory cultivation methods, mucus production and composition, and biological activities of its secretions. A standardized protocol for laboratory culture of E. crispata was established, enabling successful rearing across multiple generations, promoting ethical animal research, experimental reproducibility, and conservation biology. Investigation of kleptoplast photosynthesis revealed that animals maintained under regular light produced substantially more mucus as a stress response, with higher carbohydrate content, compared to those reared in quasi-dark conditions. Carbohydrate composition analysis, coupled with 13C isotopelabeled experiments, demonstrated direct contribution of kleptoplast photosynthesis to mucus production and composition. Proteomic characterization of the mucus identified 306 distinct proteins involved in different mechanisms such as hydrolase activity (molecular function), carbohydrate-derived metabolic processes (biological processes) and cytoskeletal organization (cell component). Biological activity assays revealed significant antimicrobial effects, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, including notable inhibition of the WHO-classified high-priority pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were identified, primarily associated with the low molecular weight mucus fractions. This comprehensive research provides novel insights into the biology of kleptoplast-bearing sea slugs and identifies in the mucus promising bioactive compounds for therapeutic development, while contributing significantly to our understanding of animal-chloroplast symbiotic associations. |
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