![]() "Although this defense-antidefense strategy is known, the detailed molecular mechanism underlying it remains unclear." ![]() To counteract this antipredator adaptation of the brown algae, herbivores produce a substance in their digestive system called EHEP that protects from phlorotannins," explains co-first author Xiaomei Sun, Postdoctor at the Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Japan. "The enzyme responsible for laminin breakdown in the sea slug is called akuBGL, and it is blocked by phlorotannin. However, to protect themselves from sea slugs and other herbivores, the brown algae produce a secondary metabolite called phlorotannin that blocks this digestion, hindering the potential application of brown algae as feedstocks for biofuel. The feeding strategy of the sea slug Aplysia kurodai has attracted attention because when it feeds on brown algae, it converts a carbohydrate called laminarin to glucose, which could be used as a renewable fuel source. In marine habitats, interactions between algae and marine herbivores dominate marine ecosystems, with most algae being consumed by herbivores. Over millions of years, predators have successfully co-evolved with their prey to maintain an ecological balance. The authors' findings are supported by experimental protein structures and enzyme assays and hold promise for biotechnological applications in biofuel production. It is described by the editors as an important study providing convincing evidence on how the sea slug Aplysia kurodai optimizes its digestion of brown algae, in a classical predator-prey 'arms race' at the molecular level. Their research has been published as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, with the revised version appearing today.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |