Zoanthoxanthins of a new structural type from Epizoanthus arenaceus (zoantharia)

Cariello, Lucio; Crescenzi, S.; Prota, Giuseppe; Zanetti, Laura

doi:10.1016/s0040-4020(01)97404-6

Cited by 33 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Indeed, from an evolutionary perspective, they may represent final products of biosynthetic pathways with key ecological roles such as defense or competition. Zoantharian specialized metabolites have mainly been investigated to identify new chemicals with applications as medicines for human health 39 – 41 . For instance, the structurally complex and extremely toxic palytoxin was isolated from a zoantharian of the genus Palythoa 42 , 43 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Zoantharian Diversity of the Tropical Eastern Pacific through an Integrative Approach

Jaramillo

Reverter

Guillen

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Zoantharians represent a group of marine invertebrates widely distributed from shallow waters to the deep sea. Despite a high diversity and abundance in the rocky reefs of the Pacific Ocean, very few studies have been reported on the diversity of this group in the Tropical Eastern Pacific coasts. While molecular techniques recently clarified some taxonomic relationships within the order, the taxonomy of zoantharians is still highly challenging due to a lack of clear morphological characters and confusing use of different data in previous studies. Our first insight into the zoantharian diversity at El Pelado Marine Protected Area - Ecuador led to the identification of six species: Terrazoanthus patagonichus; Terrazoanthus sp.; Antipathozoanthus hickmani; Parazoanthus darwini; Zoanthus cf. pulchellus; and Zoanthus cf. sociatus. A metabolomic approach using UHPLC-HRMS was proven to be very efficient as a complementary tool in the systematics of these species and specialized metabolites of the ecdysteroid and alkaloid families were identified as key biomarkers for interspecific discrimination. These results show good promise for an application of this integrative approach to other zoantharians.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Zoantharian Diversity of the Tropical Eastern Pacific through an Integrative Approach

Jaramillo

Reverter

Guillen

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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“…Numerous morphological identification criteria have been used to identify phylogenetic signal ranging from colour, sphincter muscle anatomy 18 , tentacles number 19 , type and distribution of nematocysts 20 . In addition, differences in substrate preference, overall ecology 17 , biochemical profiles [21][22][23] and sequence divergence using various gene markers were also proposed as zoanthid identification criteria [24][25][26] . Original species descriptions were thereby based on different traits depending on the authors 27 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Evidence of genetic isolation between two Mediterranean morphotypes of Parazoanthus axinellae

Villamor

Signorini

Costantini

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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coralligenous assemblages are among the most species-rich and vulnerable habitats of the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, data on connectivity patterns on species inhabiting these habitats, crucial to define management and protection priorities, are largely lacking. Moreover, unreliable species-level taxonomy can confound ecological studies and mislead management strategies. In the northwestern Mediterranean two Parazoanthus axinellae morphotypes differing in size, color and preferred substrate are found in sympatry. In this study, we used COI and ITS sequence polymorphism to assess (1) the genetic divergence between the two morphotypes, (2) their connectivity patterns and (3) their phylogenetic position within the Parazoanthidae. Specimens of P. axinellae were sampled in 11 locations along the northwestern Mediterranean; in 6 locations, samples of the two morphotypes were collected in sympatry. Small genetic diversity and structure were found within morphotypes, while marked and consistent differentiation was detected between them. Moreover, the less widespread morphotype appeared to be closer to Pacific species as P. juanfernandezii and P. elongatus. Our findings confirmed the limited knowledge on Parazoanthus species complex, and how this gap can have important implication for the conservation strategies of this widespread and valuable genus in the Mediterranean Sea. Biogenic reefs are made by calcareous encrusting algae and animals that change the geological primary habitat on which they settled through superimposition of their skeletons. They are among the most productive and diverse benthic ecosystems, providing habitat, feeding grounds, recruitment and nursery areas for a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate species 1. In the Mediterranean Sea, the main biogenic reefs are the coralligenous reefs. They are among the most important Mediterranean ecosystems due to the high diversity of species and ecological processes that they support 1,2. These complex habitats are threatened by several human activities (e.g. recreational fishing and trawling, sediment deposition, anchorage, diving), which lead to their fragmentation and loss 3,4. Monitoring spatio-temporal changes in species composition is crucial to quantify human-induced biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation, but the absence of clear taxonomic identifiers to distinguish between species makes this a challenging task. Many relevant coralligenous taxa (e.g. Porifera, Echinodermata, Cnidaria) lack diagnostic morphological characteristics, and therefore these groups are recognized as taxonomically problematic, in particular at lower taxonomic levels 5. Moreover, in these species, with high morphological plasticity 6 , some characters such as shape and coloration might not be reliable for species delimitation. It happened that morphospecies have turned out to be a single morphologically variable species 7-9 , and, conversely, what was thought to be multiple growth forms of a single species turned out to be a complex of species 10,11 .

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“…Paragracine is isolated from the coelenterate species Parazoanthus gracilis (4). This compound and other related pigments isolated from the Mediterranean species P. axinellae and Epizoanthus arenaceus are classified as zoanthoxanthins (5,6). The basic structure of paragracine, 6-methyl-1,3,7,9-tetraazacyclopent[e]azulene, contains a 7-carbon troponoid ring with two guanidine groups attached to it, carrying two positive charges at pH 7 (see formula below).…”

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Current-dependent block of nerve membrane sodium channels by paragracine

Seyama¹,

Wu²,

Narahashi³

1980

Biophysical Journal

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Paragracine, isolated from the coelenterate species Parazoanthus gracilis, selectively blocks sodium channels of squid axon membranes in a frequency-dependent manner. The blocking action depends on the direction and magnitude of the sodium current rather than on the absolute value of the membrane potential. Paragracine blocks the channels only from the axoplasmic side and does so only when the current is in the outward direction. This block may be reversed by generating inward sodium currents. In axons in which sodium inactivation has been removed by pronase, the frequency-dependent block persists, and a slow time-dependent block is observed. A slow interaction with its binding site in the channel may account for the frequency-dependent block.

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Zoanthoxanthins of a new structural type from Epizoanthus arenaceus (zoantharia)

Cited by 33 publications

References 4 publications

Assessing the Zoantharian Diversity of the Tropical Eastern Pacific through an Integrative Approach

Assessing the Zoantharian Diversity of the Tropical Eastern Pacific through an Integrative Approach

Evidence of genetic isolation between two Mediterranean morphotypes of Parazoanthus axinellae

Current-dependent block of nerve membrane sodium channels by paragracine

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