Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent
ABSTRACT The nonsymbiotic sea anemone Anthopleura nigrescens dominates the shallow‐water hydrothermal vents off the coast of Kueishan Island, Taiwan. These vents represent some of the world's most extreme environments, with recorded pH values as low as 1.52 and temperatures reaching 121°C. To i...
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71252 |
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| author | Mei‐Fang Lin Li‐Lian Liu Chen‐Tung Arthur Chen |
| author_facet | Mei‐Fang Lin Li‐Lian Liu Chen‐Tung Arthur Chen |
| author_sort | Mei‐Fang Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The nonsymbiotic sea anemone Anthopleura nigrescens dominates the shallow‐water hydrothermal vents off the coast of Kueishan Island, Taiwan. These vents represent some of the world's most extreme environments, with recorded pH values as low as 1.52 and temperatures reaching 121°C. To investigate the adaptations of A. nigrescens to these extreme conditions, transcriptomic analyses were conducted to compare populations inhabiting vent and non‐vent areas. To identify shared genetic mechanisms in vent‐dwelling anemones, specific orthologs conserved in vent sea anemones were identified by comparing the genomic data of Anthopleura species and other sea anemones. Tank experiments with elevated temperatures were also performed to evaluate the expression profiles of genes associated with heat resistance. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that enriched genes in vent populations are involved in H2S homeostasis and stress resistance, suggesting that detoxification and thermal stress resistance are critical adaptive strategies. Two significantly upregulated genes encoding hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase and thiosulfate sulfurtransferase may play a role in managing sulfur toxicity and maintaining redox balance. The enriched genes and vent‐specific gene expression patterns also suggest that efficient DNA repair mechanisms play a crucial role in the thermal stress resistance of vent populations. Interestingly, some genes associated with circadian rhythms were upregulated in vent populations, suggesting these genes may help vent anemones adapt to the highly dynamic conditions of hydrothermal vents. Furthermore, the expression profiles of stress‐resistance‐related genes reveal that vent anemones have developed unique molecular regulatory mechanisms to cope with elevated temperatures, as observed in the tank experiment. These transcriptomic findings advance our understanding of the life adaptations in shallow‐water hydrothermal vent environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d005a609171d4e7eb692ac347d0c5f7e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-d005a609171d4e7eb692ac347d0c5f7e2025-08-20T03:26:55ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-04-01154n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71252Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal VentMei‐Fang Lin0Li‐Lian Liu1Chen‐Tung Arthur Chen2Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources National Sun Yat‐Sen University Kaohsiung TaiwanFrontier Center for Ocean Science and Technology National Sun Yat‐Sen University Kaohsiung TaiwanDepartment of Oceanography National Sun Yat‐Sen University Kaohsiung TaiwanABSTRACT The nonsymbiotic sea anemone Anthopleura nigrescens dominates the shallow‐water hydrothermal vents off the coast of Kueishan Island, Taiwan. These vents represent some of the world's most extreme environments, with recorded pH values as low as 1.52 and temperatures reaching 121°C. To investigate the adaptations of A. nigrescens to these extreme conditions, transcriptomic analyses were conducted to compare populations inhabiting vent and non‐vent areas. To identify shared genetic mechanisms in vent‐dwelling anemones, specific orthologs conserved in vent sea anemones were identified by comparing the genomic data of Anthopleura species and other sea anemones. Tank experiments with elevated temperatures were also performed to evaluate the expression profiles of genes associated with heat resistance. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that enriched genes in vent populations are involved in H2S homeostasis and stress resistance, suggesting that detoxification and thermal stress resistance are critical adaptive strategies. Two significantly upregulated genes encoding hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase and thiosulfate sulfurtransferase may play a role in managing sulfur toxicity and maintaining redox balance. The enriched genes and vent‐specific gene expression patterns also suggest that efficient DNA repair mechanisms play a crucial role in the thermal stress resistance of vent populations. Interestingly, some genes associated with circadian rhythms were upregulated in vent populations, suggesting these genes may help vent anemones adapt to the highly dynamic conditions of hydrothermal vents. Furthermore, the expression profiles of stress‐resistance‐related genes reveal that vent anemones have developed unique molecular regulatory mechanisms to cope with elevated temperatures, as observed in the tank experiment. These transcriptomic findings advance our understanding of the life adaptations in shallow‐water hydrothermal vent environments.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71252adaptationAnthopleuradetoxificationhydrothermal ventstress resistancethermotolerance |
| spellingShingle | Mei‐Fang Lin Li‐Lian Liu Chen‐Tung Arthur Chen Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent Ecology and Evolution adaptation Anthopleura detoxification hydrothermal vent stress resistance thermotolerance |
| title | Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent |
| title_full | Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent |
| title_short | Transcriptomics of the Anthopleura Sea Anemone Reveals Unique Adaptive Strategies to Shallow‐Water Hydrothermal Vent |
| title_sort | transcriptomics of the anthopleura sea anemone reveals unique adaptive strategies to shallow water hydrothermal vent |
| topic | adaptation Anthopleura detoxification hydrothermal vent stress resistance thermotolerance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71252 |
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