A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Loss of state transitions in Bryopsidales macroalgae and kleptoplastic sea slugs (Gastropoda, Sacoglossa)
Authors: Havurinne, Vesa; Rivoallan, Axelle; Mattila, Heta; Tyystjärvi, Esa; Cartaxana, Paulo; Cruz, Sonia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publishing place: BERLIN
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Communications Biology
Journal name in source: Communications Biology
Journal acronym: COMMUN BIOL
Article number: 869
Volume: 8
Number of pages: 15
eISSN: 2399-3642
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08305-3
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08305-3
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499010926
Green macroalgae within the order Bryopsidales lack the fundamental photoprotective mechanisms of green algae, the xanthophyll cycle and energy-dependent dissipation of excess light. Here, by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence at 77 K after specific light treatments, we show that Bryopsidales algae also lack state transitions, another ubiquitous photoprotection mechanism present in other green algae. Certain Sacoglossa sea slugs can feed on Ulvophyceae algae, including some Bryopsidales, and steal chloroplasts - kleptoplasts - that remain functional inside the animal cells for months without the support of the algal nucleus. Our data reveal that the state transition capacity is not retained in the kleptoplasts of the sea slugs, and we provide evidence that the loss is caused by structural changes during their incorporation by the animals. Enforced chloroplast sphericity was observed in all studied kleptoplastic associations, and we propose that it is a fundamental property supporting long-term retention of kleptoplasts in photosynthetic sea slugs.
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Funding information in the publication:
This work was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant agreement no. 949880 to S.C. (https://doi.org/10.3030/949880), and by Fundac & atilde;o para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, grants 2020.03278.CEECIND to S.C. (https://doi.org/10.54499/2020.03278.CEECIND/CP1589/CT0012), CEECIND/01434/2018 to P.C. (https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECIND/01434/2018/CP1559/CT0003), UID + LA/P/0094/2020 to CESAM, and by project CITAQUA, "Desenvolvimento do Projeto de Reforco do Polo de Aveiro (H4)", framed within Measure 10 of Investment TC-C10-i01-Hub Azul-Rede de Infraestruturas para a Economia Azul, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and supported by Fundo Azul of the Portuguese Government. H.M. received funding from the Finnish Cultural Foundation through the Foundation's Post Doc Pool. We thank Maria Ines Silva and Diogo Marcal for technical support in algae and sea slug maintenance. Daniel Alexandre and Bernardo Balseiro are thanked for providing UIva sp. samples for the study.
