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Biology
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Molecular Physiology of Marine Invertebrates
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Molecular Physiology of Marine Invertebrates

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 9335

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Muyan Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Interests: molecular physiology; echinoderm; hypometabolism; aestivation; thermal stress; hypoxia; neurophysiology; sensory system; osmoregulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Marine invertebrates are important to many areas of research—from basic mechanisms of cell functions all the way to aquaculture and as models for global climate change. The current knowledge on vertebrates and on mainline medical models could be greatly enhanced by an understanding of model invertebrates from marine systems. This Special Issue focuses on molecular processes giving rise to complex physiologic functions of major marine invertebrates based on targeted candidate gene approaches and untargeted omics-based approaches (transcriptomcs, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, etc.). Marine invertebrates, particularly those inhabiting dynamic coastal systems, are frequently exposed to large changes in their physical and chemical environment. These changes are due to regular (daily or seasonal) patterns, but can also be induced by sudden variations. Molecular physiological processes of marine invertebrates in response to such environmental stresses including temperature fluctuations, ocean acidification, hypoxia, salinity stress, pollution and other stressors are also topics of interest.

Prof. Dr. Muyan Chen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • marine invertebrate
  • molecular process
  • physiological function
  • candidate gene
  • omics
  • environmental stress

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3659 KiB  
Article
Nervous System Development and Neuropeptides Characterization in Embryo and Larva: Insights from a Non-Chordate Deuterostome, the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
by Yingqiu Zheng, Xiao Cong, Huachen Liu, Yixin Wang, Kenneth B. Storey and Muyan Chen
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1538; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11101538 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1998
Abstract
Here, we described the complex nervous system at five early developmental stages (blastula, gastrula, auricularia, doliolaria and pentactula) of a holothurian species with highly economic value, Apostichopus japonicus. The results revealed that the nervous system of embryos and larvae is mainly distributed [...] Read more.
Here, we described the complex nervous system at five early developmental stages (blastula, gastrula, auricularia, doliolaria and pentactula) of a holothurian species with highly economic value, Apostichopus japonicus. The results revealed that the nervous system of embryos and larvae is mainly distributed in the anterior apical region, ciliary bands or rings, and the feeding and attachment organs, and that serotonergic immunoreactivity was not observed until the embryo developed into the late gastrula; these are evolutionarily conserved features of echinoderm, hemichordate and protostome larvae. Furthermore, based on available transcriptome data, we reported the neuropeptide precursors profile at different embryonic and larval developmental stages. This analysis showed that 40 neuropeptide precursors present in adult sea cucumbers were also identified at different developmental stages of embryos and larvae, and only four neuropeptide precursors (SWYG precursor 2, GYWKDLDNYVKAHKT precursor, Neuropeptide precursor 14-like precursor, GLRFAmprecursor-like precursor) predicted in adults were absent in embryos and larvae. Combining the quantitative expression of ten specific neuropeptide precursor genes (NPs) by qRT-PCR, we revealed the potential important roles of neuropeptides in embryo development, feeding and attachment in A. japonicus larvae. In conclusion, this work provides novel perspectives on the diverse physiological functions of neuropeptides and contributes to understanding the evolution of neuropeptidergic systems in echinoderm embryos and larvae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Physiology of Marine Invertebrates)
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18 pages, 2970 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of Putative Class C (Glutamate Family) G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Ascidian Styela clava
by Jin Zhang, Bo Dong and Likun Yang
Biology 2022, 11(5), 782; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11050782 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2453
Abstract
In this study, we performed the genome-wide domain analysis and sequence alignment on the genome of Styela clava, and obtained a repertoire of 204 putative GPCRs, which exhibited a highly reduced gene number compared to vertebrates and cephalochordates. In this repertoire, six [...] Read more.
In this study, we performed the genome-wide domain analysis and sequence alignment on the genome of Styela clava, and obtained a repertoire of 204 putative GPCRs, which exhibited a highly reduced gene number compared to vertebrates and cephalochordates. In this repertoire, six Class C GPCRs, including four metabotropic glutamate receptors (Sc-GRMs), one calcium-sensing receptor (Sc-CaSR), and one gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type B receptor 2-like (Sc-GABABR2-like) were identified, with the absence of type 1 taste and vomeronasal receptors. All the Sc-GRMs and Sc-CaSR contained the typical “Venus flytrap” and cysteine-rich domains required for ligand binding and subsequent propagation of conformational changes. In swimming larvae, Sc-grm3 and Sc-casr were mainly expressed at the junction of the sensory vesicle and tail nerve cord while the transcripts of Sc-grm4, Sc-grm7a, and Sc-grm7b appeared at the anterior trunk, which suggested their important functions in neurotransmission. The high expression of these Class C receptors at tail-regression and metamorphic juvenile stages hinted at their potential involvement in regulating metamorphosis. In adults, the transcripts were highly expressed in several peripheral tissues, raising the possibility that S. clava Class C GPCRs might function as neurotransmission modulators peripherally after metamorphosis. Our study systematically characterized the ancestral chordate Class C GPCRs to provide insights into the origin and evolution of these receptors in chordates and their roles in regulating physiological and morphogenetic changes relevant to the development and environmental adaption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Physiology of Marine Invertebrates)
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14 pages, 2430 KiB  
Article
Digestive Enzyme Activities and Gut Emptying Are Correlated with the Reciprocal Regulation of TRPA1 Ion Channel and Serotonin in the Gut of the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius
by Jingyun Ding, Huiyan Wang, Zequn Li, Jiangnan Sun, Peng Ding, Xiaomei Chi, Mingfang Yang, Yaqing Chang and Chong Zhao
Biology 2022, 11(4), 503; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11040503 - 24 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2007
Abstract
The energetic link in the benthic community is based on physiological characteristics of the low food absorption efficiency of sea urchins. Low food absorption efficiency of sea urchins is correlated with the activity of digestive enzymes and the duration of food in their [...] Read more.
The energetic link in the benthic community is based on physiological characteristics of the low food absorption efficiency of sea urchins. Low food absorption efficiency of sea urchins is correlated with the activity of digestive enzymes and the duration of food in their gut. Thus, the digestive enzymes activities (pepsin and amylase enzyme activities) and gut emptying are important indicators in assessing nutrient digestion and absorption in sea urchins. In the present study, the relationship between these indicators and molecules related to digestive physiology were quantified in sea urchins. We found (1) an inter-regulatory relationship existed between Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1), and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) in the gut of Strongylocentrotus intermedius; (2) digestive enzyme activities were negatively correlated with the TRPA1 and concentration of 5-HT in the gut of S. intermedius; (3) gut emptying rate was positively correlated with TRPA1 and concentration of 5-HT in the gut of S. intermedius. The present study revealed that the digestion and absorption of food are correlated with the TRPA1 and 5-HT in the gut of S. intermedius, which provides valuable information about the digestive physiology of sea urchins. This novel finding is relevant to understanding the low food digestibility of sea urchins. It also provides valuable information to the digestive physiology of sea urchins, which are key to maintaining the stability of food webs in the marine ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Physiology of Marine Invertebrates)
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Review

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15 pages, 654 KiB  
Review
A Review of Histocytological Events and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Intestine Regeneration in Holothurians
by Fang Su, Hongsheng Yang and Lina Sun
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/biology11081095 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1862
Abstract
Most species of the class Holothuroidea are able to regenerate most of their internal organs following a typical evisceration process, which is a unique mechanism that allows sea cucumbers to survive in adverse environments. In this review, we compare autotomy among different type [...] Read more.
Most species of the class Holothuroidea are able to regenerate most of their internal organs following a typical evisceration process, which is a unique mechanism that allows sea cucumbers to survive in adverse environments. In this review, we compare autotomy among different type of sea cucumber and summarize the histocytological events that occur during the five stages of intestinal regeneration. Multiple cytological activities, such as apoptosis and dedifferentiation, take place during wound healing and anlage formation. Many studies have focused on the molecular regulation mechanisms that underlie regeneration, and herein we describe the techniques that have been used as well as the development-related signaling pathways and key genes that are significantly expressed during intestinal regeneration. Future analyses of the underlying mechanisms responsible for intestinal regeneration should include mapping at the single-cell level. Studies of visceral regeneration in echinoderms provide a unique perspective for understanding whole-body regeneration or appendage regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Physiology of Marine Invertebrates)
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