Targeting metzincins to mitigate jellyfish blooms: a novel approach for conservation

IF 2.8 2区生物学 Q1 MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY

Frontiers in Marine Science Pub Date : 2025-04-15 DOI:10.3389/fmars.2025.1563258

Xuecun Liu, Xiao Peng, Jingqiang Wang, Shuhui Ju, Qing Sun, Wensai Ji, Xiaoyu Hua, Haiyan Zhang, Juan Höfer, Marina Pozzolini, Shuogui Xu, Xueqi Ma, Liang Xiao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

IntroductionThe modification of the marine ecological environment has led to the frequent occurrence of jellyfish blooms, causing global hazards. The budding reproduction of jellyfish polyps is a critical factor in their population size, yet there is limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in this process. This study aims to explore the intrinsic regulatory factors of the budding of jellyfish Aurelia coerulea (A. coerulea) polyps from the perspective of jellyfish biotoxin and to develop new strategies for the management of jellyfish abundance.MethodsThe main biological toxins of the A. coerulea polyp were screened through the integrated analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data. The broad-spectrum metalloproteinase inhibitor, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), was employed to treat polyps for observing its effect on the budding of A. coerulea polyps. Through conducting the detection of metzincin proteolytic activity, molecular docking and kinetic analysis, as well as transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR verification before and after EDTA treatment of the polyp, the key biological toxins and the mechanisms influencing polyp budding were clarified.ResultsFour types of the metzincin family of metalloproteinases constituted the main biotoxins in the A. coerulea polyp. Among them, astacins (NAS) were the predominant metzincins of the A. coerulea polyp. We discovered that EDTA significantly inhibited the activity of metzincins and the budding of A. coerulea polyps. EDTA was capable of stably binding to the zinc-binding active sites of the four major types of metzincins in the A. coerulea polyp and could down-regulate the expression levels of key metzincin molecules and enrich multiple pathways related to development.ConclusionThis study elucidates the effects of metzincins on the budding of jellyfish polyps, providing a potential target for mitigating jellyfish blooms.

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针对metzincins减少水母繁殖：一种新的保护方法

海洋生态环境的改变导致水母大量繁殖的频繁发生，造成全球性的危害。水母水螅的萌芽繁殖是决定其种群大小的一个关键因素，但对这一过程的分子机制了解有限。本研究旨在从水母生物毒素的角度探讨蓝纹水母（Aurelia coerulea）珊瑚虫出芽的内在调控因素，为水母丰度管理提供新的策略。方法通过转录组学和蛋白质组学数据的综合分析，筛选蓝纹水螅的主要生物毒素。采用广谱金属蛋白酶抑制剂乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）治疗息肉，观察其对蓝叶青息肉出芽的影响。通过对美津霉素蛋白水解活性检测、分子对接和动力学分析、转录组学分析和RT-qPCR验证等方法，明确了EDTA处理息肉前后的关键生物毒素及其影响息肉出芽的机制。结果四种类型的金属蛋白酶家族构成了蓝纹田鼠息肉的主要生物毒素。其中，astacins （NAS）是蓝斑拟南豆息肉的主要抑菌素。我们发现EDTA显著地抑制了甲锌素的活性和蓝斑拟南芥息肉的出芽。EDTA能够稳定结合蓝毛藻中四种主要类型的metzincin的锌结合活性位点，并能下调metzincin关键分子的表达水平，丰富与发育相关的多种途径。结论本研究阐明了metzincins对水母息肉出芽的影响，为减轻水母华提供了可能的靶点。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Frontiers in Marine Science Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Aquatic Science

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

16.20%

发文量

2443

审稿时长

14 weeks

期刊介绍： Frontiers in Marine Science publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of all aspects of the environment, biology, ecosystem functioning and human interactions with the oceans. Field Chief Editor Carlos M. Duarte at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Thuwal is supported by an outstanding Editorial Board of international researchers. This multidisciplinary open-access journal is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, academics, policy makers and the public worldwide. With the human population predicted to reach 9 billion people by 2050, it is clear that traditional land resources will not suffice to meet the demand for food or energy, required to support high-quality livelihoods. As a result, the oceans are emerging as a source of untapped assets, with new innovative industries, such as aquaculture, marine biotechnology, marine energy and deep-sea mining growing rapidly under a new era characterized by rapid growth of a blue, ocean-based economy. The sustainability of the blue economy is closely dependent on our knowledge about how to mitigate the impacts of the multiple pressures on the ocean ecosystem associated with the increased scale and diversification of industry operations in the ocean and global human pressures on the environment. Therefore, Frontiers in Marine Science particularly welcomes the communication of research outcomes addressing ocean-based solutions for the emerging challenges, including improved forecasting and observational capacities, understanding biodiversity and ecosystem problems, locally and globally, effective management strategies to maintain ocean health, and an improved capacity to sustainably derive resources from the oceans.