Differences in small molecule neurotransmitter profiles from the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar radial nerve revealed between sexes and following food-deprivation

Meaghan Smith; Utpal Bose; Michael R Hall; Cherie A Motti; Scott F Cummins

doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00551

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Differences in small molecule neurotransmitter profiles from the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar radial nerve revealed between sexes and following food-deprivation

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Differences in small molecule neurotransmitter profiles from the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar radial nerve revealed between sexes and following food-deprivation

Meaghan Smith, Utpal Bose, Michael R Hall, Cherie A Motti and Scott F Cummins

Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol.9, 551

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00551

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Abstract

crown-of-thorns seastar

COTS

Great Barrier Reef

neurotransmitter

metabolites

biosynthesis pathway

Neurotransmitters serve as chemical mediators of cell communication, and are known to have important roles in regulating numerous physiological and metabolic events in eumetazoans. The Crown-of-Thorns Seastar (COTS) is an asteroid echinoderm that has been the focus of numerous ecological studies due to its negative impact on coral reefs when in large numbers. Research devoted to its neural signalling, from basic anatomy to the key small neurotransmitters, would expand our current understanding of neural-driven biological processes, such as growth and reproduction, and offers a new approach to exploring the propensity for COTS population explosions and subsequent collapse. In this study we investigated the metabolomic profiles of small molecule neurotransmitters in the COTS radial nerve cord. Multivariate analysis shows differential abundance of small molecule neurotransmitters in male and female COTS, and in food-deprived individuals with significant differences between sexes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), histamine and serotonin, and significant differences in histamine and serotonin between satiation states. Annotation established that the majority of biosynthesis enzyme genes are present in the COTS genome. The spatial distribution of GABA, histamine and serotonin in the radial nerve cord was subsequently confirmed by immunolocalisation; serotonin is most prominent within the ectoneural regions, including unique neural bulbs, while GABA and histamine localise primarily within neuropil fibres. Glutamic acid, which was also found in high relative abundance and is a precursor of GABA, is known as a spawning inhibitor in seastars, and as such was tested for inhibition of ovulation ex-vivo which resulted in complete inhibition of oocyte maturation and ovulation induced by 1-Methyladenine. These findings not only advance our knowledge of echinoderm neural signalling processes but also identify potential targets for developing novel approaches for COTS biocontrol.

Details

Title: Differences in small molecule neurotransmitter profiles from the Crown-of-Thorns Seastar radial nerve revealed between sexes and following food-deprivation
Authors: Meaghan Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Utpal Bose (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Michael R Hall (Author) - Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Cherie A Motti (Author) - Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Scott F Cummins (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol.9, 551; 13
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00551
ISSN: 1664-2392
Copyright note: Copyright © 2018 Smith, Bose, Hall, Motti and Cummins. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450719602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Endocrinology & Metabolism

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