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Different strategies of energy storage in cultured and freshly isolated Symbiodinium sp.
Author(s) -
Wang LiHsueh,
Chen HungKai,
Jhu ChuSian,
Cheng JingO.,
Fang LeeShing,
Chen ChiiShiarng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/jpy.12349
Subject(s) - symbiodinium , biology , coral , sea anemone , polyunsaturated fatty acid , anemone , coral reef , botany , anthozoa , host (biology) , clade , ecology , symbiosis , fatty acid , phylogenetics , biochemistry , bacteria , gene , genetics
The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and Symbiodinium is critical for the survival of coral reefs. In this study, we developed a protocol to rapidly and freshly separate Symbiodinium from corals and sea anemones. Furthermore, we compared these freshly‐isolated Symbiodinium with cultured Symbiodinium to investigate host and Symbiodinium interaction. Clade B Symbiodinium had higher starch content and lower lipid content than those of clades C and D in both freshly isolated and cultured forms. Clade C had the highest lipid content, particularly when associated with corals. Moreover, the coral‐associated Symbiodinium had higher protein content than did cultured and sea anemone‐associated Symbiodinium . Regarding fatty acid composition, cultured Symbiodinium and clades B, C, and D shared similar patterns, whereas sea anemone‐associated Symbiodinium had a distinct pattern compared coral‐associated Symbiodinium . Specifically, the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids were lower than those of the saturated fatty acids, and the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA s) were the highest in all examined Symbiodinium . Furthermore, PUFA s levels were higher in coral‐associated Symbiodinium than in cultured Symbiodinium . These results altogether indicated that different Symbiodinium clades used different energy storage strategies, which might be modified by hosts.