Molecular mechanism of establishment of symbiosis between corals and zooxanthellae

我们搜索了与共生菌获得有关的珊瑚凝集素。从海藓中纯化的凝集素SLL-2将共生菌转化为类似于它们共生形式的球虫。这是由于SLL-2与共生菌表面的Forssman样鞘糖脂结合所致。棘球茅的一种凝集素吸引了能与珊瑚共生的共生菌。鹿茸的凝集素参与共生菌的获得。这表明珊瑚对共生菌的获取机制至少有吸引和获取两个步骤。

We searched coral lectins involved in the acquisition of Symbiodinium. A lectin SLL-2 purified from Sinularia lochmodes transform Symbiodinium to the coccoid form which is similar to symbiotic form of them. This resulted from binding of SLL-2 to the Forssman like glycosphingolipid on the surface of Symbiodinium. A lectin from Ctenactis echinata attracted Symbiodinium which can symbiose with the coral. The lectin from Acropora tenuis involved in the acquisition of Symbiodinium. These indicated that The acquisition mechanism of Symbiodinium by corals has at least two steps, attraction and acquisition.