Molecular response to toxic diatom-derived aldehydes in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

摘要: Diatoms are dominant photosynthetic organisms in the world’s oceans and represent a major food source for zooplankton benthic filter-feeders. However, their beneficial role sustaining marine webs has been challenged after discovery that they produce secondary metabolites, such as polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs), which negatively affect reproductive success of many invertebrates. Here, we report effects two common diatom PUAs, heptadienal octadienal, have never tested before at molecular level, using sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, model organism. We show both PUAs able to induce teratogenesis (i.e., malformations), already reported decadienal, better-studied PUA this group. Moreover, post-recovery experiments embryos can recover treatment with all three indicating negative depend on concentrations exposure time these metabolites. also identify range during exert greatest effect urchin embryogenesis. Finally, expression levels thirty one genes (having key broad functional responses, stress, development, differentiation, skeletogenesis detoxification processes) order targets affected by correlation morphological abnormalities. This study opens new perspectives understanding how afford protection from environmental toxicants through an integrated network genes.