Sea Anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica with Zooxanthellae Have
Higher MAA Levels than A. xanthogrammica with Zoochlorellae
Bi457
Kenta Tsutsui
Introduction
Zoochlorellae (green chlorophytes) and zooxanthellae (golden-brown dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium) are
photosynthetic algae that inhabit the endodermal tissues of their hosts (Weis 1996). A giant green sea anemone,
Anthopleura xanthogrammica, is a common sea anemone in intertidal zones along the west coast ofNorth
America, and it forms symbiotic relationships with the two photosynthetic algae. The color of the algae makes the
anemone either bright green or brownish green. Interestingly, the color ofA. xanthogrammica seems to be related
to the distribution of the animal in intertidal zones. Bright green-colored anemones are more likely to be found in
the higher intertidal zone, whereas brownish-colored anemones often inhabit the lower intertidal zone (Bates 2000;
Secord et al. 2000). Bates (2000) explains that this intertidal distribution is caused mainly by different levels of
heat tolerance in zooxanthellae and zoochlorellae. If the distribution was true, A. xanthogrammica with
zooxanthellae (ZX anemones) would be well adapted to high UV radiation, which is strongest at high intertidal
levels. Marine invertebrates living in intertidal zones often have mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) which are
natural UV-absorbing sunscreens. In order to determine if the ZX anemones are better adapted to UV exposure, I
developed the hypothesis that A. xanthogrammica with zooxanthellae (ZX anemone) would have higher MAA
values than A. xanthogrammica with zoochlorellae (ZC anemones), therefore being more tolerant of UV exposure.
Methods and Materials
Sampling
Fourteen tentacle samples were collected at South Cove, Coos County, Oregon, and 8 samples were
collected at North spit, Coos Bay, Oregon. I went to South Cove during the lowest tide (Lowest tide =-1.2) and
began sampling at the lowest mark of the intertidal zone, and I cut several tentacle samples from a sea anemone.
Then, I walked inland until I saw another A. xanthogrammica. Because it was difficult to cut out tentacles from
contracted anemones, I ignored those highly contracted anemones and kept walking until another animal was
found.
At North Spit, sampling was done in a similar manner. I started to sample from the lowest tide mark
(Lowest tide: -0.6) and walked toward the center ofthe jetty (about 25 m from the lowest tide mark). I cut out
and collected the tentacle samples on the way to the center of the jetty. Once I reached the center of the jetty, I
walked about 10m along the center line of the jetty and then walked toward the lowest mark. Again, I collected
samples on the way down to the lowest tide mark.
All samples were collected from individuals that were exposed to the sunlight. Animals under rocks or in
crevice were ignored; since my experiment was to see if there was any difference in UV absorbance in the ZX and
ZC anemones, exposed anemones would show the difference more strongly. I preserved the tentacle samples in
centrifuge tubes (1.5 ml each) and kept them refrigerated until the MAAs analysis.
MAAs analysis and RCA protein assay
Tips of tentacles ofA. xanthogrammica were used for MAA analysis and protein assay. All tentacle
samples were cut into approximately the same volume and rinsed with filtered water. Then, each sample was
minced and put in a centrifuge tube. I added 1.0 ml of 100 % methanol to the tube and let it sit. Twenty minutes
later, I centrifuged the sample (8000 rotation per min) for 60 seconds and pipetted off the supernatant. The
supernatant was kept in a different centrifuge tube for the later use. Another 1.0 ml of the 100 % methanol was
added to the tissue. I let the sample sit for 20 minutes and centrifuged it again. The supernatant was pipetted off
and combined with the previously extracted supernatant. I analyzed the UV absorbance at A=313nm and A=340nm,
by using spectrophotometry. I also performed the BCA protein assay to quantify the absorbance.
Results
The ZX anemones were observed in the higher intertidal zones, while the ZC anemones were distributed
in the lower intertidal zone (Figure I). Mean distances from the lowest tide mark are 39.14m for the ZX anemones
and 14.86m for the ZC anemones.
a. b.
2.5 5
III 4.5
.50!
~ 2 4
~ 3.5
-S 3~1.5
~ 2.5
.... 1 20
...
" 1.5..,E
~0.5 1
0.5
0 0
o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Distance (m) Distance (m)
Figure 1. Distributions ofA. xanthogrammica. a. A. xanthogrammica with zooxanthellae, b. A. xanthogrammica with
zoochlorellae. Distance (m) = distance from the lowest tide mark; bars on the columns represent SE.
MAA analysis and BCA protein assay produced absorbance unit per ug pretein at 313 nm and 340 nm for
each tentacle sample. Correlation between distance from the lowest tide mark and absorbance unit per ug pretein
was more clear at 313 nm, but no strong correlation seems to exist at 340 nm (Figure 2). The correlation
coefficients were 0.606 and 0.348 for 313nm and 340nm, respectively. When mean absorbance for zooxanthellae
and zoochrolellae was compared, zooxanthellae had higher absorbance for both wavelengths (313nm and 340nm)
(Figure 3).
Discussion
The distance from the lowest tide mark seems to influence the distribution of the two symbiotic algae; the
ZX anemones inhabit the higher intertidal area, and the ZC anemones are more likely to be found in the lower
intertidal. This result is consistent with Bates (2000) and Secord et al. (2000). However, an intertidal area is
actually a complex, 3-dimentional habitat. A. xanthogrammica is often found under rocks and in crevices as well
as exposed spaces. These shaded microhabitats may help zoochlorellae survive in higher intertidal areas. When I
sampled the tentacle tissues at the intertidal areas, I purposefully chose exposed A. xanthogrammica so that I
could clear~y see how the intertidal distribution affects the ability ofA. xanthogrammica to produce natural
sunscreens. Thus, my results indicate the distribution of the "exposed animals," not A. xanthogrammica in
general. Iftissue samples were also collected from shaded A. xanthogrammica. the result might differ from my
result presented above.
There are 4 major MAAs found in A.
xanthogrammica: mycosporine-taurin, porphyra-334,
a. 0.0008
0.0007
0.0006 •
•
0.0004
0.0003
shinorine, and mycosporine-2 glycine (Shick et al. 2002a).
Wavelengths of maximum absorption are 310 nm for
mycosporine-taurin and 334 nm for the three other MAAs
(Shick et al. 2002b). Therefore, higher absorbance at
c:
"i 0.0005
~
0.0002
0.0001
O+---!---!---!---!---!---!-----l
•
10 20 30 40 50 60 70o
0.0008 ...----------------,-,
0.0007
b.
is most likely due to the higher concentration of
A=313nm in both the ZX and the ZC anemones (Figure 3)
mycosporine-taurin. Shick et al. (2002a) report the high 0.0006
806040
•
•
20o
0.0002
0.0001 •
O-l----+----!----+------l
0.0003
0.0004
c:
.~ 0.0005
Q.
bD
::l
~
concentration of mycosporine-taurin (:::45% of total
MAAs) in the ZX anemone as well. The absorbance at
A=313nm seems to be positively correlated with the
distance from the lowest tide mark. This result suggests
that the exposed sea anemones possess more Distance (m)
mycosporine-taurin with increasing distance from the sea.
The concentrations of the three other MAAs (porphyra-
Figure 2. Relationships between the distance from the
lowest tide mark and UV absorbance at 2 wavelenghs. a.
A=313nm and b. A=340nm
334, shinorine, and mycosporine-2 glycine) are less likely to increase with increasing distance from the sea. This
may indicate that mycosporine-taurin is the primary sunscreen in A. xanthogrammica. Production of this MAA
may be strongly selected for in the higher intertidal areas.
Figure 3 also suggests that ZX anemones have the higher mean absorbance at both A=313nm and
A=340nm than ZC anemones. This result supports my hypothesis that the ZX anemones have higher MAAs than
the ZC anemones. The ZX anemones live in higher intertidals, whereas the ZC anemones live in the lower
intertidals; the concentration of mycosporine-taurin also increases with increasing distance from the sea; therefore,
the ZX anemones have higher MAAs than the ZC anemones.
0.00045
0.0004
c
'Q) 0.00035b
~ 0.0003Co
bD
::l 0.00025
• it =313
"-
« 0.0002
• it =340cIII
Q) 0.00015
E
0.0001
0.00005
0
ZX ZC
Figure 3. The mean UV absorbance at two wavelengths in the ZX anemones (n=7) and the ZC anemones (n=14). Bars on the
columns represent SE.
Even though my results support my hypothesis, there are a few points that should be mentioned. As I described
above, all my results were based only on "exposed" A. xanthogrammica. If the anemones residing in shaded areas,
such as under rocks or in crevices, were taken into account, the distribution of ZX and ZC anemones and mean
UV absorbance might be greatly changed. Therefore, I would obtain samples from all the anemones in the next
experiment and see if there would be different results. MAA analysis and BCA protein assay are biochemical
techniques in which a precise amount of chemicals and an exact timing of chemical reactions are important. Even
small carelessness may cause a huge difference in the result; meticulous attention must be paid.
My study revealed the differences in the distribution of ZX and ZC anemones and the amounts of MAAs
synthesized in the two anemones. However, what factors contribute to this distribution remains unclear. One
possible factor is the capacity of synthesis of heat shock proteins (Hsp), which help organisms live in the elevated
temperature environment. Zooxanthellae might induce the host's tissues to produce Hsps so that the host could
survive in the high intertidal. In fact, there is endosymbiotic bacterium (Holospora obtuse) that enhances heat-
shock gene expression of the host (Hori and Fujitani 2003). Synder and Rossi (2004) revealed that Anthopleura
elegantissima express more than 3 times the amount ofHsp 70 on a sunny day versus a foggy day. Thus, A.
xanthogrammica may have the ability to change the expression ofHsps. Furthermore, the gene expression might
be facilitated by zooxanthellae. There is still much to learn about the relationship between the symbionts and A.
xanthogrammica. The relationship seems to be much more than the shelter-nutrition exchange.
References:
Bates A (2000) The intertidal distribution of two algal symbionts hosted by Anthopleura xanthogrammica (Brandt
1935). J Exp Mar BioI Eco1249: 249-262
Secord D, Auqustine L (2000) Biogeography and microhabitat variation in temperate algal-invertebrate symbioses:
zooxanthellae and zoochlorellae in two Pacific intertidal sea anemones, Anthopleura elegantissima and A.
xanthogrammica. Invert BioI 119: 139-146
Hori M, Fujishima M (2003) The endosymbiotic bacterium Holospora obtusa enhances hear-shock gene
expression of the host Paramecium caudatum. J Eukaryot Microbio150: 293-298
Shick JM, Dunlar WC, Pearse JS, Pearse VB (2002a) Mycosporine-like amino acid content in four species of sea
anemones in the genus Anthopleura reflects phylogenetic but not environmental or symbiotic
relationships. BioI Bull 203: 315-330
Shick JM, Dunlap WC (2002b) Mycosporine-like amino acids and related gadusols: biosynthesis, accumulation,
and UV-protective functions in aquatic organisms. Annu Rev Physiol 64: 223-262
Synder MJ, Rossi S (2004) Stress protein (Hsp70 family) expression in intertidal benthic organisms: the example
ofAnthopleura elegantissima (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). Sci Mar 68: 155-162
Weis VM, Levine RP (1996) Differential protein profiles reflect different lifestyles symbiotic and aposymbiotic
Anthopleura elegantissima, a sea anemone from temperate waters. J ExpMar Bioi 199: 883-392