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Special Session 1: Ecosystem under multiple stressors |
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The effect of ocean acidification on metamorphosis-related signaling pathways in bivalve mollusks
SS1-13-S
Michele Mei* , School of Biological Science, The University of Hong Kong
Swire Institute of Marine Science
Vengatesen Thiyagarajan, School of Biological Science, The University of Hong Kong
Swire Institute of Marine Science
Presenter Email: michelemeix3@gmail.com
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| Anthropogenic-driven inputs of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere is altering seawater chemistry, reducing both pH and carbon calcium saturation states, a process known as ocean acidification (OA). OA has already been shown to have detrimental effects on the physiology and development of bivalve mollusks. In recent years, studies employing molecular tools have found OA-induced changes in genome, transcriptome, and proteome expression. As marine invertebrates, bivalves undergo an important life event called metamorphosis in which the free-swimming larvae settles and undertakes complex behavioral and morphological changes to become benthic adults. Such changes are driven by the perception of appropriate environmental cues which initiate metamorphic-related signaling pathways. These signaling pathways in turn induce changes in the bivalve proteome, which leads to metamorphosis. For example, the perception of appropriate cues initiates the catecholamine-related morphogenetic pathway and amplifier pathway. Meanwhile the nitric oxide synthase pathway regulates metamorphosis by inhibition. Despite the importance of metamorphosis in bivalves, only a few studies have tested the effects of low pH (<8.0) on this process. Furthermore, these studies only measured metamorphic success rate and have not investigated OA effects on the underlying molecular processes. In this review, in order to begin understanding the possible effects, I summarized the metamorphosis-related signaling pathways in bivalves and linked these to the induced proteomic changes. Since molecular techniques have only recently been employed in studies on marine invertebrates, there is a lack of literature on which proteins are actually or altered affected by signaling pathways. Afterwards, I demonstrate how a near-future decrease in pH may affect these signaling pathways and their related proteins by reviewing how bivalves generally respond to acidosis and oxidative stress. Finally, I propose potential methods to test these hypotheses. Keywords: ocean acidification, bivalves, signaling pathways, proteomics, metamorphosis |
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