Project description:Cnidarians, including corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, possess specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes that function in prey capture and defense. These cells represent a striking evolutionary innovation and include distinct types such as venom injecting nematocytes and mechanically acting spirocytes. While their biomechanics and transcriptional regulation have been studied extensively, little is known about their epigenetic regulation. Here, we combined epigenetic profiling with RNA sequencing in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis to explore regulatory programs underlying cnidocyte diversity. We identified cell type specific regulatory elements in promoter and enhancer regions and linked them to distinct gene expression programs. This analysis revealed fundamental differences between nematocytes and spirocytes and uncovered a previously unrecognized nematocyte population that expresses the nep3 toxin but lacks most other toxins. These findings highlight the complexity of cnidocyte regulation and suggest greater cellular diversity within this defining cnidarian cell type than previously appreciated.
Project description:Jellyfish blooms represent a significant, but largely overlooked, source of labile organic matter (jelly-OM) in the ocean, characterized by high protein content with a low C:N ratio. The bloom-decay cycle of jellyfish in coastal waters are important vehicles for carbon export to the ocean’s interior. To accurately incorporate them into biogeochemical models, the interactions between microbes and jelly-OM have yet to be fully characterized. We conducted jelly-OM enrichment experiments to simulate the scenario experienced by the coastal microbiome after the decay of a jellyfish bloom. We combined metagenomics, endo- and exo-metaproteomic approaches to obtain a mechanistic understanding on the metabolic network operated by the jelly-OM degrading bacterial consortium.
Project description:IL10-/-DC pulsed for 6h with 0, SEA, LPS, or co-pulsed with SEA/LPS together to compare changes in LPS-induced gene expression mediated by SEA (Schistosome soluble egg antigen) Keywords: other
Project description:Cnidarians, including corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, possess specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes that function in prey capture and defense. These cells represent a striking evolutionary innovation and include distinct types such as venom injecting nematocytes and mechanically acting spirocytes. While their biomechanics and transcriptional regulation have been studied extensively, little is known about their epigenetic regulation. Here, we combined epigenetic profiling with RNA sequencing in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis to explore regulatory programs underlying cnidocyte diversity. We identified cell type specific regulatory elements in promoter and enhancer regions and linked them to distinct gene expression programs. This analysis revealed fundamental differences between nematocytes and spirocytes and uncovered a previously unrecognized nematocyte population that expresses the nep3 toxin but lacks most other toxins. These findings highlight the complexity of cnidocyte regulation and suggest greater cellular diversity within this defining cnidarian cell type than previously appreciated.
Project description:The scyphozoan jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai are common blooming species in China.The venomous characteristics of jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai is largely attributed to their complex and elaborate venom delivery system: the stinging cells, or nematocytes. These specialized cells synthesize and secrete unique intracellular organelles called nematocysts. Nematocysts with heterogeneous sizes and morphologies may contain different toxic components that exert diverse pharmacological and physiological activities such as hemolysis, cytolysis and proteolysis for defense and prey capture. We modified the previous method of nematocyst preparation using density centrifugation to purify undischarged nematocysts from jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai tentacles. Ultimately, isorhiza-type were successfully purified.Then we used purified nematocysts for proteomic study to identify sting-related toxins in Nemopilema nomurai nematocysts.
Project description:The scyphozoan jellyfish Cyanea capillata are common blooming species in China.The venomous characteristics of jellyfish Cyanea capillata is largely attributed to their complex and elaborate venom delivery system: the stinging cells, or nematocytes. These specialized cells synthesize and secrete unique intracellular organelles called nematocysts. Nematocysts with heterogeneous sizes and morphologies may contain different toxic components that exert diverse pharmacological and physiological activities such as hemolysis, cytolysis and proteolysis for defense and prey capture. We modified the previous method of nematocyst preparation using density centrifugation to purify undischarged nematocysts from jellyfish Cyanea capillata tentacles. Ultimately, mastigophore-type nematocysts were successfully purified.Then we used purified nematocysts for proteomic study to identify sting-related toxins in Cyanea capillata nematocysts.
Project description:IL10-/-DC pulsed for 6h with 0, SEA, LPS, or co-pulsed with SEA/LPS together to compare changes in LPS-induced gene expression mediated by SEA (Schistosome soluble egg antigen)