Proteomic Analysis Is Needed to Understand the Vulnerability of Bunodosoma cavernatum Sea Anemones to Climate Change

TL;DR

This study explores how sea anemones respond to thermal stress by analyzing their proteome and enzyme activity, revealing vulnerabilities to climate change.

Contribution

The novelty lies in linking proteomic changes and enzyme activity in sea anemones to their vulnerability under thermal stress and climate change.

Findings

Sea anemones reduce mass and synthesize stress-related proteins under thermal stress.

Peroxidase activity decreases while superoxide dismutase activity increases in constant temperature groups.

Thermal stress leads to reduced toxin production in tentacles and increased susceptibility to pathogens.

Abstract

Sea anemones play
a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Recent studies
have highlighted their physiological and ecological responses to thermal
stress. Therefore, our objective was to perform a proteomic analysis
of Bunodosoma cavernatum sea anemones
in the Gulf of Mexico, subjected to thermal stress, to understand
whether these organisms activate specific processes to resist increased
temperature. We submitted one group of sea anemones to variable temperatures
(26 to 32 °C) and another group to a constant temperature (28
°C) for 1.5 months. Then we subjected them to thermal stress
(32 °C) for 2 weeks. We evaluated the enzymatic activity and
proteome in the columns and tentacles. The main effect of the temperature
regime change is a reduction in mass. Also, sea anemones synthesized
proteins related to the activation of the immune system and protection
against temperature. We observed decreased peroxidase activity, while
superoxide dismutase activity was higher only in the constant temperature
group. On the basis of these data, we deduce that B.
cavernatum sea anemones are vulnerable to climate
change because they stop producing toxins in their tentacles when
faced with thermal stress and activate cellular responses that make
them susceptible to pathogens. These responses are not sufficient
to guarantee an optimal health state.

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