Confirmation That Photosynthesizing Sea Slugs Steal Genes From Algae

For decades , scientist have get over how a certain ocean slug learn the ability to photosynthesize after ingesting algae . An advanced imaging proficiency now confirms that the clout are literally steal genes from the alga . It ’s consider the first example of “ horizontal gene conveyance ” in a multicellular being .

Researcher Sidney Pierce and colleagues have shown that the horizontal factor transport of running nuclear cistron — which codification for both chloroplast protein and chlorophyll synthesis — from the assimilate remains of the alga V. litorea is what ’s enabling the ocean poke , E. chlorotica , toengage in photosynthesis . The process is aptly named “ kleptoplasty . ”

Photosynthetic Sea Slug Snarfs ( And Steals ) Algae DNA

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It ’s considered the first direct evidence that the emerald green sea slug ’s chromosomes acquired some “ functional ” genes from the alga . What ’s more , it ’s an extremely uncommon — if not the only know — example of functional factor transfer from one multicellular specie to another .

The blog of the Marine Biological Laboratoryexplains :

[ The reassign gene ] makes an enzyme that is critical to the function of photosynthetic “ machine ” called chloroplasts , which are typically constitute in plants and algae .

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It has been known since the seventies that E. chloritica “ steal ” chloroplasts from V. litorea … and embed them into its own digestive cells . Once inside the slug cellular phone , the chloroplasts continue to photosynthesize for up to nine months — much longer than they would do in the alga . The photosynthesis process produces carbohydrates and lipide , which nourish the slug .

How the bullet manages to maintain these photosynthesizing organelles for so long has been the matter of intensive study and a dependable deal of argument . “ This newspaper confirms that one of several algal cistron needed to repair impairment to chloroplasts , and keep them functioning , is present on the clout chromosome , ” Pierce says . “ The gene is incorporated into the slug chromosome and transmitted to the next genesis of slug . ” While the next generation must take up chloroplast anew from alga , the factor to maintain the chloroplasts are already present in the slug genome , Pierce articulate .

The gene that was transferred , call prK , plays an important role in photosynthesis by both keep the chloroplast and in allow for carbon fixation . Without it , the ocean slugs would not be capable to perform photosynthesis . The researchers used an tomography proficiency calledfluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH ) to confirm the appendage .

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Interestingly , the research worker ruminate that other genes may contribute to the process as well . They chose prK from a variety of possible gene because , in their words :

several former discipline have found grounds for its horizontal transfer between V. litorea and E. chlorotica using both polymerase chain chemical reaction ( PCR ) experiments in adult and larval slug DNA ( Rumpho et al . , 2009 ; Schwartz et al . , 2010 ) and adult slog transcriptome episode data point analysis ( Pierce et al . , 2012 ) . Also , prk encodes a protein used exclusively in the Calvin cycle and has no known homolog in non - photosynthetic organisms .

The researchers say the exact chemical mechanism of the gene transfer is unsung . And in fact , there ’s still much to learn about this procedure , including further subject area of the “ transferome ” and tests to determine the chromosomal positioning of other algal cistron .

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