Prostaglandin A2: an agent of chemical defense in the Caribbean gorgonian Plexaura homomalla

Gerhart, Donald J.

doi:10.3354/meps019181

Cited by 83 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In support of Gerhart's (1984) results, the hydroxy acid of 15(R) PGA2 from Plexaura homomalla (Fig. 1A) inhibited the feeding of a natural assemblage of reef fishes (Fig.…”

supporting

confidence: 55%

“…The 15(R) isomer is much less active than the 15(S) in representative pharmacological assays (Spraggins 1972). Gerhart (1984) tested the hypothesis that the prostaglandins in Plexaura homomalla function as a chemical defense against predatory reef fishes. He found that both the 15(S) and 15(R) isomers of unesterified PGA2 induced regurgitation in the yellowhead wrasse Halichoeres garnoti in feeding experiments conducted on coral reefs off Curasao, and obtained similar results in laboratory assays with the killifish Fundulus heteroclitis (Gerhart 1984).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gerhart (1984) tested the hypothesis that the prostaglandins in Plexaura homomalla function as a chemical defense against predatory reef fishes. He found that both the 15(S) and 15(R) isomers of unesterified PGA2 induced regurgitation in the yellowhead wrasse Halichoeres garnoti in feeding experiments conducted on coral reefs off Curasao, and obtained similar results in laboratory assays with the killifish Fundulus heteroclitis (Gerhart 1984). As Gerhart pointed out, however, the compounds used in his assays were the hydroxy acids of 15(S) and 15(R) PGA2 (Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A re-evaluation of the ichthyodeterrent role of prostaglandins in the Caribbean gorgonian coral Plexaura homomalla

Pawlik¹,

Fenical²

1989

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Previous investigations have indicated that the Caribbean gorgonian coral Plexaura homomalla derives a chemical defense from prostaglandins present at high concentrations w~t h i n the coral's soft tissues. These conclusions were based on laboratory and field experiments with the hydroxy acids of prostaglandin A2 (PGA2), and not the acetoxy methyl esters of PGA2 that are present in the living gorgonian. In the present study, the consumption of food strips containing the acetoxy methyl ester of 15(R) PGA, from P. homomalla by a natural assemblage of Caribbean coral reef fishes did not differ from consumption of control stnps. In support of previous findings, treatment with the acetoxy acid, hydroxy methyl ester and hydroxy acid of 15(R) PGA2 inhibited consumption of food strips by reef fishes. Although the acetoxy methyl esters of PGA2 undergo hydrolysis when the soft tissues of P. homomalla are damaged, the process appears to be too slow to provide the gorgonian with an effective inducible defense mechanism.

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“…In support of Gerhart's (1984) results, the hydroxy acid of 15(R) PGA2 from Plexaura homomalla (Fig. 1A) inhibited the feeding of a natural assemblage of reef fishes (Fig.…”

supporting

confidence: 55%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A re-evaluation of the ichthyodeterrent role of prostaglandins in the Caribbean gorgonian coral Plexaura homomalla

Pawlik¹,

Fenical²

1989

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Bakus (1981) demonstrated that most gorgonians and other conspicuous, sessile reef invertebrates contained extractable substances that were toxic to fish. Recent experiments have shown that the calcium carbonate sclerites and secondary metabolites of some gorgonians can deter fish feeding (Gerhart 1984, Pawlik et al 1987, Gerhart et al 1988, Harvell et al 1988, Harvell & Fenical 1989.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fouling and gastropod predation: consequences of grazing for a tropical octocoral

Gerhart¹

1990

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The ovulid gastropod Cyphoma gibbosum Linnaeus is a specialist consumer of gorgonian octocorals. Although the direct effects of its feeding do not appear to be great, the indirect consequences may be substantial. An 8 wk study of the gorgonian Plexaura hornornalla Esper in Curaqao found that C. g~bbosum occurred primarily on the lower 30 cm of colonies, and that there were significant correlations between C glbbosum density and the extent of colony fouling on the lower 30 cm of colonies. This correlation occurred whether one measured in~tial fouling, final fouhng, or change in fouling during the 8 wk. There were no significant correlations of C. gibbosum density and fouling for colony portions more than 30 cm above the holdfast. These findings and direct observations in the field suggest that feeding by C. gibbosum increases fouling of gorgonians by exposing the axial skeleton and providing settling sites for fouling propagules. Because fecundity of P. homornalla is reduced when fouhng separates colonies into a series of smaller aggregates, the indirect effects of C. g~b b o s u m grazing could strongly affect the fitness of P. hornornalla and other gorgonians.

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“…The endogenous function of pi-class GSTs in molluscs has yet to be defined; however, studies in mammalian systems indicate that pi GSTs are more involved than other GST classes in the detoxification of prostaglandins and other electrophilic α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds [21,22]. The highest concentrations of prostaglandins in nature have been found in Caribbean gorgonians [23], where the acetoxy acids, hydroxyl methyl esters and hydroxyl acids of 15(R)-prostaglandin A 2 function as feeding deterrents against generalist reef fish [24,25]. Prostaglandins in the A series can significantly induce GST activity in mammalian cells [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proteomic identification, cDNA cloning and enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferases from the generalist marine gastropod, Cyphoma gibbosum

Whalen¹,

Morin²,

Lin³

et al. 2008

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics

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Short title: Characterization of glutathione S-transferases from Cyphoma gibbosumFootnote: The nucleotide and translated amino acid sequences for C. gibbosum GSTs have been deposited in GenBank with the following accession nos. EU008563 (CgGSTM1) and EU008562 (CgGSTM2).Abbreviations footnote: CDNB, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; GST, glutathione S-transferase; nrDB, non-redundant database; RACE, rapid amplification of cDNA ends; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction 2 ABSTRACT Glutathione S-transferases (GST) were characterized from the digestive gland of Cyphoma gibbosum (Mollusca; Gastropoda), to investigate the possible role of these detoxification enzymes in conferring resistance to allelochemicals present in its gorgonian coral diet. We identified the collection of expressed cytosolic Cyphoma GST classes using a proteomic approach involving affinity chromatography, HPLC and nanospray liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Two major GST subunits were identified as putative mu-class GSTs; while one minor GST subunit was identified as a putative theta-class GST, apparently the first theta-class GST identified from a mollusc. Two Cyphoma GST cDNAs (CgGSTM1 and CgGSTM2) were isolated by RT-PCR using primers derived from peptide sequences. Phylogenetic analyses established both cDNAs as mu-class GSTs and revealed a mollusc-specific subclass of the GST-mu clade. These results provide new insights into metazoan GST diversity and the biochemical mechanisms used by marine organisms to cope with their chemically defended prey.

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Prostaglandin A2: an agent of chemical defense in the Caribbean gorgonian Plexaura homomalla

Cited by 83 publications

References 21 publications

A re-evaluation of the ichthyodeterrent role of prostaglandins in the Caribbean gorgonian coral Plexaura homomalla

A re-evaluation of the ichthyodeterrent role of prostaglandins in the Caribbean gorgonian coral Plexaura homomalla

Fouling and gastropod predation: consequences of grazing for a tropical octocoral

Proteomic identification, cDNA cloning and enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferases from the generalist marine gastropod, Cyphoma gibbosum

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