An aluminum shield enables the amphipod Hirondellea gigas to inhabit deep-sea environments

Abstract

The amphipod Hirondellea gigas inhabits the deepest regions of the oceans in extreme high-pressure conditions. However, the mechanisms by which this amphipod adapts to its high-pressure environment remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the elemental content of the exoskeleton of H . gigas specimens captured from the deepest points of the Mariana Trench. The H . gigas exoskeleton contained aluminum, as well as a major amount of calcium carbonate. Unlike other (accumulated) metals, aluminum was distributed on the surface of the exoskeleton. To investigate how H . gigas obtains aluminum, we conducted a metabolome analysis and found that gluconic acid/gluconolactone was capable of extracting metals from the sediment under the habitat conditions of H . gigas . The extracted aluminum ions are transformed into the gel state of aluminum hydroxide in alkaline seawater, and this gel covers the body to protect the amphipod. This aluminum gel is a good material for adaptation to such high-pressure environments.

Structural Chemistry of Metal–Organic Frameworks under Hydrostatic Pressures

“…The investigation of materials under high pressures is an established discipline which crosses various scientific areas such as materials chemistry, condensed matter physics, mineralogy, biology, and food science . P. Bridgman pioneered the field of high-pressure crystallography with his work on high-pressure devices and studies on various materials, − paving the way for the development of the diamond anvil cell (DAC). , In a DAC, uniaxial pressure is transformed into uniform hydrostatic pressure by using a pressure-transmitting medium (PTM) which surrounds the sample. , Diamond windows are used due to their hardness allowing the generation of high pressures in the sample chamber and their transparency that creates a beam path for characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction or Raman spectroscopy. , One of the prestigious goals, that has initiated numerous experimental and computational developments, has been the search for metallic hydrogen at high pressures − as predicted by Wigner and Huntington .…”

“…29,42−48 ■ MOFS UNDER PRESSURE High-Pressure Structural Sciences. The investigation of materials under high pressures is an established discipline which crosses various scientific areas such as materials chemistry, 45 condensed matter physics, 49 mineralogy, 50 biology, 51 and food science. 52 P. Bridgman pioneered the field of high-pressure crystallography with his work on high-pressure devices and studies on various materials, 53−55 paving the way for the development of the diamond anvil cell (DAC).…”

Single‐Cell Nanoencapsulation: From Passive to Active Shells

“…[ 37 ] The amphipod Hirondellea gigas , inhabiting the deep sea under extreme high‐pressure conditions, has evolved to withstand hostile environments by forming an aluminum coat. [ 38 ] It is proposed that Al(III) is concentrated in the gut of H. gigas and is released in high‐pH seawater, spontaneously forming a cytoprotective Al(OH) 3 gel. The Al(OH) 3 shield prevents the Ca(II) release from the exoskeleton and contributes to the stabilization of calcite structures under 100 MPa.…”

The Adaptive Evolution and Gigantism Mechanisms of the Hadal “Supergiant” Amphipod Alicella gigantea

“…H. gigas was collected from the Mariana Trench with a depth of 10,929 m (Lan et al, 2017). The body length of H. gigas can reach more than 30 mm (Kobayashi et al, 2019). Echinogammarus marinus was from the sea coast (50.79 • N 1.03 • W) of the UK (Cogne et al, 2019).…”