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  1. Article ; Online: Portugal: female science leaders could speed up change.

    Cartaxana, Paulo

    Nature

    2021  Volume 600, Issue 7888, Page(s) 221

    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-12-07
    Publishing country England
    Document type News
    ZDB-ID 120714-3
    ISSN 1476-4687 ; 0028-0836
    ISSN (online) 1476-4687
    ISSN 0028-0836
    DOI 10.1038/d41586-021-03641-w
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  2. Article ; Online: Food shaped photosynthesis: Photophysiology of the sea slug

    Morelli, Luca / Cartaxana, Paulo / Cruz, Sónia

    Open research Europe

    2024  Volume 3, Page(s) 107

    Abstract: Background: Some Sacoglossa sea slugs steal and integrate chloroplasts derived from the algae they feed on into their cells where they continue to function photosynthetically, a process termed kleptoplasty. The stolen chloroplasts - kleptoplasts - can ... ...

    Abstract Background: Some Sacoglossa sea slugs steal and integrate chloroplasts derived from the algae they feed on into their cells where they continue to function photosynthetically, a process termed kleptoplasty. The stolen chloroplasts - kleptoplasts - can maintain their functionality up to several months and support animal metabolism. However, chloroplast longevity can vary depending on sea slug species and algal donor. In this study, we focused on
    Methods: We have investigated the changes in
    Results: We observed that the photosynthetic efficiency of
    Conclusions: Our results showed that, even if the sea slugs fed with the two algae show photosynthetic activities like the respective algal donors, not all the photoprotective mechanisms present in
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-03-13
    Publishing country Belgium
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 2732-5121
    ISSN (online) 2732-5121
    DOI 10.12688/openreseurope.16162.2
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  3. Article ; Online: Kleptoplasty: Getting away with stolen chloroplasts.

    Cruz, Sónia / Cartaxana, Paulo

    PLoS biology

    2022  Volume 20, Issue 11, Page(s) e3001857

    Abstract: Kleptoplasty, the process by which a host organism sequesters and retains algal chloroplasts, is relatively common in protists. The origin of the plastid varies, as do the length of time it is retained in the host and the functionality of the association. ...

    Abstract Kleptoplasty, the process by which a host organism sequesters and retains algal chloroplasts, is relatively common in protists. The origin of the plastid varies, as do the length of time it is retained in the host and the functionality of the association. In metazoa, the capacity for long-term (several weeks to months) maintenance of photosynthetically active chloroplasts is a unique characteristic of a handful of sacoglossan sea slugs. This capability has earned these slugs the epithets "crawling leaves" and "solar-powered sea slugs." This Unsolved Mystery explores the basis of chloroplast maintenance and function and attempts to clarify contradictory results in the published literature. We address some of the mysteries of this remarkable association. Why are functional chloroplasts retained? And how is the function of stolen chloroplasts maintained without the support of the algal nucleus?
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Photosynthesis ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; Plastids/metabolism ; Gastropoda
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-11-08
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2126776-5
    ISSN 1545-7885 ; 1544-9173
    ISSN (online) 1545-7885
    ISSN 1544-9173
    DOI 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001857
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  4. Article ; Online: Proteomic analysis of the mucus of the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia crispata.

    Lopes, Diana / Aveiro, Susana S / Cruz, Sónia / Cartaxana, Paulo / Domingues, Pedro

    Journal of proteomics

    2024  Volume 294, Page(s) 105087

    Abstract: Elysia crispata is a tropical sea slug that can retain intracellular functional chloroplasts from its algae prey, a mechanism termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, like other gastropods, secretes mucus, a viscous secretion with multiple functions, ... ...

    Abstract Elysia crispata is a tropical sea slug that can retain intracellular functional chloroplasts from its algae prey, a mechanism termed kleptoplasty. This sea slug, like other gastropods, secretes mucus, a viscous secretion with multiple functions, including lubrication, protection, and locomotion. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the mucus proteome of the sea slug E. crispata using gel electrophoresis and HPLC-MS/MS. We identified 306 proteins in the mucus secretions of this animal, despite the limited entries for E. crispata in the Uniprot database. The functional annotation of the mucus proteome using Gene Ontology identified proteins involved in different functions such as hydrolase activity (molecular function), carbohydrate-derived metabolic processes (biological processes) and cytoskeletal organization (cell component). Moreover, a high proportion of proteins with enzymatic activity in the mucus of E. crispata suggests potential biotechnological applications including antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Putative antimicrobial properties are reinforced by the high abundance of hydrolases. This study also identified proteins common in mucus samples from various species, supporting a common mechanism of mucus in protecting cells and tissues while facilitating animal movement. SIGNIFICANCE: Marine species are increasingly drawing the interest of researchers for their role in discovering new bioactive compounds. The study "Proteomic Analysis of the Mucus of the Photosynthetic Sea Slug Elysia crispata" is a pioneering effort that uncovers the complex protein content in this fascinating sea slug's mucus. This detailed proteomic study has revealed proteins with potential use in biotechnology, particularly for antimicrobial and antitumor purposes. This research is a first step in exploring the possibilities within the mucus of Elysia crispata, suggesting the potential for new drug discoveries. These findings could be crucial in developing treatments for severe diseases, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, and may lead to significant advances in medical research.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Proteomics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Proteome ; Gastropoda ; Mucus ; Anti-Infective Agents
    Chemical Substances Proteome ; Anti-Infective Agents
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-01-17
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 2400835-7
    ISSN 1876-7737 ; 1874-3919
    ISSN (online) 1876-7737
    ISSN 1874-3919
    DOI 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105087
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  5. Article ; Online: Photoprotective mechanisms in Elysia species hosting Acetabularia chloroplasts shed light on host-donor compatibility in photosynthetic sea slugs.

    Morelli, Luca / Havurinne, Vesa / Madeira, Diana / Martins, Patrícia / Cartaxana, Paulo / Cruz, Sónia

    Physiologia plantarum

    2024  Volume 176, Issue 2, Page(s) e14273

    Abstract: Sacoglossa sea slugs have garnered attention due to their ability to retain intracellular functional chloroplasts from algae, while degrading other algal cell components. While protective mechanisms that limit oxidative damage under excessive light are ... ...

    Abstract Sacoglossa sea slugs have garnered attention due to their ability to retain intracellular functional chloroplasts from algae, while degrading other algal cell components. While protective mechanisms that limit oxidative damage under excessive light are well documented in plants and algae, the photoprotective strategies employed by these photosynthetic sea slugs remain unresolved. Species within the genus Elysia are known to retain chloroplasts from various algal sources, but the extent to which the metabolic processes from the donor algae can be sustained by the sea slugs is unclear. By comparing responses to high-light conditions through kinetic analyses, molecular techniques, and biochemical assays, this study shows significant differences between two photosynthetic Elysia species with chloroplasts derived from the green alga Acetabularia acetabulum. Notably, Elysia timida displayed remarkable tolerance to high-light stress and sophisticated photoprotective mechanisms such as an active xanthophyll cycle, efficient D1 protein recycling, accumulation of heat-shock proteins and α-tocopherol. In contrast, Elysia crispata exhibited absence or limitations in these photoprotective strategies. Our findings emphasize the intricate relationship between the host animal and the stolen chloroplasts, highlighting different capacities to protect the photosynthetic organelle from oxidative damage.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Acetabularia ; Plastids/metabolism ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Gastropoda/metabolism
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-04-03
    Publishing country Denmark
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2020837-6
    ISSN 1399-3054 ; 0031-9317
    ISSN (online) 1399-3054
    ISSN 0031-9317
    DOI 10.1111/ppl.14273
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  6. Article: Assessing the Trophic Impact of Bleaching: The Model Pair

    Silva, Ruben X G / Madeira, Diana / Cartaxana, Paulo / Calado, Ricardo

    Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

    2023  Volume 13, Issue 2

    Abstract: Bleaching events associated with climate change are increasing worldwide, being a major threat to tropical coral reefs. Nonetheless, the indirect impacts promoted by the bleaching of organisms hosting photosynthetic endosymbionts, such as those impacting ...

    Abstract Bleaching events associated with climate change are increasing worldwide, being a major threat to tropical coral reefs. Nonetheless, the indirect impacts promoted by the bleaching of organisms hosting photosynthetic endosymbionts, such as those impacting trophic interactions, have received considerably less attention by the scientific community. Bleaching significantly affects the nutritional quality of bleached organisms. The consequences promoted by such shifts remain largely overlooked, namely on specialized predators that have evolved to prey upon organisms hosting photosynthetic endosymbionts and benefit nutritionally, either directly or indirectly, from the available pool of photosynthates. In the present study, we advocate the use of the model predator-prey pair featuring the stenophagous nudibranch sea slug
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-01-14
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2606558-7
    ISSN 2076-2615
    ISSN 2076-2615
    DOI 10.3390/ani13020291
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  7. Article ; Online: On the art of stealing chloroplasts.

    Cartaxana, Paulo / Cruz, Sónia

    eLife

    2020  Volume 9

    Abstract: Sea slugs increase the longevity of the chloroplasts they steal from algae by limiting the harmful side-effects of photosynthesis. ...

    Abstract Sea slugs increase the longevity of the chloroplasts they steal from algae by limiting the harmful side-effects of photosynthesis.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Aplysia ; Chloroplasts/metabolism ; Gastropoda ; Photosynthesis ; Theft
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-11-20
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Comment
    ZDB-ID 2687154-3
    ISSN 2050-084X ; 2050-084X
    ISSN (online) 2050-084X
    ISSN 2050-084X
    DOI 10.7554/eLife.64057
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  8. Article ; Online: Assessing the Trophic Impact of Bleaching: The Model Pair Berghia stephanieae/Exaiptasia diaphana

    Silva, Ruben X. G. / Madeira, Diana / Cartaxana, Paulo / Calado, Ricardo

    Animals. 2023 Jan. 14, v. 13, no. 2

    2023  

    Abstract: Bleaching events associated with climate change are increasing worldwide, being a major threat to tropical coral reefs. Nonetheless, the indirect impacts promoted by the bleaching of organisms hosting photosynthetic endosymbionts, such as those impacting ...

    Abstract Bleaching events associated with climate change are increasing worldwide, being a major threat to tropical coral reefs. Nonetheless, the indirect impacts promoted by the bleaching of organisms hosting photosynthetic endosymbionts, such as those impacting trophic interactions, have received considerably less attention by the scientific community. Bleaching significantly affects the nutritional quality of bleached organisms. The consequences promoted by such shifts remain largely overlooked, namely on specialized predators that have evolved to prey upon organisms hosting photosynthetic endosymbionts and benefit nutritionally, either directly or indirectly, from the available pool of photosynthates. In the present study, we advocate the use of the model predator–prey pair featuring the stenophagous nudibranch sea slug Berghia stephanieae that preys upon the photosymbiotic glass anemone Exaiptasia diaphana to study the impacts of bleaching on trophic interactions. These model organisms are already used in other research fields, and one may benefit from knowledge available on their physiology, omics, and culture protocols under controlled laboratory conditions. Moreover, B. stephanieae can thrive on either photosymbiotic or aposymbiotic (bleached) glass anemones, which can be easily maintained over long periods in the laboratory (unlike photosymbiotic corals). As such, one can investigate if and how nutritional shifts induced by bleaching impact highly specialized predators (stenophagous species), as well as if and how such effects cascade over consecutive generations. Overall, by using this model predator–prey pair one can start to truly unravel the trophic effects of bleaching events impacting coral reef communities, as well as their prevalence over time.
    Keywords climate change ; coral reefs ; corals ; endosymbionts ; glass ; nutritive value ; photosymbiosis ; photosynthates ; photosynthesis ; slugs
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-0114
    Publishing place Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 2606558-7
    ISSN 2076-2615
    ISSN 2076-2615
    DOI 10.3390/ani13020291
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  9. Article ; Online: Revealing the polar lipidome, pigment profiles, and antioxidant activity of the giant unicellular green alga, Acetabularia acetabulum

    Rey, Felisa / Cartaxana, Paulo / Cruz, Sonia / Melo, Tania / Domingues, M. Rosário

    Journal of Phycology. 2023 Oct., v. 59, no. 5 p.1025-1040

    2023  

    Abstract: Marine algae are one of the most important sources of high‐value compounds such as polar lipids, omega‐3 fatty acids, photosynthetic pigments, or secondary metabolites with interesting features for different niche markets. Acetabularia acetabulum is a ... ...

    Abstract Marine algae are one of the most important sources of high‐value compounds such as polar lipids, omega‐3 fatty acids, photosynthetic pigments, or secondary metabolites with interesting features for different niche markets. Acetabularia acetabulum is a macroscopic green single‐celled alga, with a single nucleus hosted in the rhizoid. This alga is one of the most studied dasycladalean species and represents an important model system in cell biology studies. However, its lipidome and pigment profile have been overlooked. Total lipid extracts were analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (HILIC‐HRMS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant capacity of lipid extracts was tested using DPPH and ABTS assays. Lipidomics identified 16 polar lipid classes, corresponding to glycolipids, betaine lipids, phospholipids, and sphingolipids, with a total of 191 lipid species, some of them recognized by their bioactivities. The most abundant polar lipids were glycolipids. Lipid classes less studied in algae were identified, such as diacylglyceryl‐carboxyhydroxymethylcholine (DGCC) or hexosylceramide (HexCer). The pigment profile of A. acetabulum comprised carotenoids (17.19%), namely cis‐neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein and β,β‐carotene, and chlorophylls a and b (82.81%). A. acetabulum lipid extracts showed high antioxidant activity promoting a 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) with concentrations of 57.91 ± 1.20 μg · mL⁻¹ (438.18 ± 8.95 μmol Trolox · g⁻¹ lipid) in DPPH and 20.55 ± 0.60 μg · mL⁻¹ in ABTS assays (918.56 ± 27.55 μmol Trolox · g⁻¹ lipid). This study demonstrates the potential of A. acetabulum as a source of natural bioactive molecules and antioxidant compounds.
    Keywords Acetabularia ; acetabulum ; algae ; algology ; antioxidant activity ; antioxidants ; betaine ; cell biology ; glycolipids ; high performance liquid chromatography ; hydrophilicity ; lipidomics ; lutein ; phospholipids ; photosynthesis ; secondary metabolites ; sphingolipids ; tandem mass spectrometry ; violaxanthin
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-10
    Size p. 1025-1040.
    Publishing place John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
    Document type Article ; Online
    Note JOURNAL ARTICLE
    ZDB-ID 281226-5
    ISSN 1529-8817 ; 0022-3646
    ISSN (online) 1529-8817
    ISSN 0022-3646
    DOI 10.1111/jpy.13367
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  10. Article: Prevalence and Photobiology of Photosynthetic Dinoflagellate Endosymbionts in the Nudibranch Berghia stephanieae

    Silva, Ruben X. G. / Cartaxana, Paulo / Calado, Ricardo

    Animals. 2021 July 25, v. 11, no. 8

    2021  

    Abstract: Berghia stephanieae is a stenophagous sea slug that preys upon glass anemones, such as Exaiptasia diaphana. Glass anemones host photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts that sea slugs ingest when consuming E. diaphana. However, the prevalence of these ...

    Abstract Berghia stephanieae is a stenophagous sea slug that preys upon glass anemones, such as Exaiptasia diaphana. Glass anemones host photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts that sea slugs ingest when consuming E. diaphana. However, the prevalence of these photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts in sea slugs appears to be short-lived, particularly if B.stephanieae is deprived of prey that host these microalgae (e.g., during bleaching events impacting glass anemones). In the present study, we investigated this scenario, along with food deprivation, and validated the use of a non-invasive and non-destructive approach employing chlorophyll fluorescence as a proxy to monitor the persistence of the association between sea slugs and endosymbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates acquired through the consumption of glass anemones. Berghia stephanieae deprived of a trophic source hosting photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts (e.g., through food deprivation or by feeding on bleached E. diaphana) showed a rapid decrease in minimum fluorescence (Fₒ) and photosynthetic efficiency (Fᵥ/Fₘ) when compared to sea slugs fed with symbiotic anemones. A complete loss of endosymbionts was observed within 8 days, confirming that no true symbiotic association was established. The present work opens a new window of opportunity to rapidly monitor in vivo and over time the prevalence of associations between sea slugs and photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts, particularly during bleaching events that prevent sea slugs from incorporating new microalgae through trophic interactions.
    Keywords Miozoa ; chlorophyll ; endosymbionts ; fluorescence ; food deprivation ; glass ; microalgae ; photobiology ; photosynthesis ; slugs
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2021-0725
    Publishing place Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 2606558-7
    ISSN 2076-2615
    ISSN 2076-2615
    DOI 10.3390/ani11082200
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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