10.5061/DRYAD.612JM643Q
Cartaxana, Paulo
University of Aveiro
Rey, Felisa
University of Aveiro
LeKieffre, Charlotte
0000-0002-9200-7925
Grenoble Alpes University
Lopes, Diana
University of Aveiro
Hubas, Cedric
0000-0002-9110-9292
Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle
Spangenberg, Jorge E.
0000-0001-8636-6414
University of Lausanne
Escrig, Stéphane
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Jesus, Bruno
University of Nantes
Calado, Gonçalo
Universidade Lusófona
Domingues, Rosário
University of Aveiro
Kühl, Michael
University of Copenhagen
Calado, Ricardo
0000-0002-1670-9335
University of Aveiro
Meibom, Anders
0000-0002-4542-2819
University of Lausanne
Cruz, Sónia
0000-0003-4775-8161
University of Aveiro
Photosynthesis from stolen chloroplasts can support sea slug reproductive
fitness
Dryad
dataset
2021
kleptoplast
Fatty acid
European Research Council
https://ror.org/0472cxd90
949880
2021-10-07T00:00:00Z
2021-10-07T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.11.448027
48249 bytes
5
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Some sea slugs are able to steal functional chloroplasts (kleptoplasts)
from their algal food sources, but the role and relevance of
photosynthesis to the animal host remain controversial. While some
researchers claim that kleptoplasts are slowly digestible ‘snacks’, others
advocate that they enhance the overall fitness of sea slugs much more
profoundly. Our analysis show light-dependent incorporation of 13C and 15N
in the albumen gland and gonadal follicles of the sea slug Elysia timida,
representing translocation of photosynthates to kleptoplast-free
reproductive organs. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with reported
roles in reproduction were produced in the sea slug cells using labelled
precursors translocated from the kleptoplasts. Finally, we report reduced
fecundity of E. timida by limiting kleptoplast photosynthesis. The present
study indicates that photosynthesis enhances the reproductive fitness of
kleptoplast-bearing sea slugs, confirming the biological relevance of this
remarkable association between a metazoan and an algal-derived organelle.