Role of ABC Proteins in Secondary Metabolism and Immune (=Defensive) Response in Seaweeds
Leonardo T. Salgado,
Louisi S. Oliveira,
Juliana Echevarria-Lima,
Vanessa M. Reis,
Daniela B. Sudatti,
Fabiano L. Thompson,
Renato C. Pereira
Affiliations
Leonardo T. Salgado
Diretoria de Pesquisas, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Louisi S. Oliveira
Departamento de Biotecnologia Marinha, Instituto de Estudos do Mar Almirante Paulo Moreira—IEAPM, Arraial do Cabo 28930-000, RJ, Brazil
Juliana Echevarria-Lima
Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Aplicada, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
Vanessa M. Reis
Diretoria de Pesquisas, Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22460-030, Brazil
Daniela B. Sudatti
Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
Fabiano L. Thompson
Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, SAGE-COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
Renato C. Pereira
Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil
Laurencia seaweed species synthesize a broad range of secondary metabolites, mainly terpenes (e.g., elatol), exhibiting diverse ecological roles, such as defense against fouling and herbivores. Recently, an intricate cellular machinery was described concerning terpenes biosynthetic pathways, storage inside corps en cerise (CC), and regulated exocytosis in these species. But for seaweeds in general, the proteins involved in transmembrane transport of secondary metabolites remain unknown. Assays with Rhodamine-123 and cyclosporine A (CSA) revealed the presence of ABC transporters in CC membrane of Laurencia dendroidea. In vivo incubation assays with CSA resulted in CC morphological changes, reduced intracellular elatol concentrations, and increased biofouling cover on the seaweed surface. Cultivation assays in the presence of a marine pathogenic bacteria induced the expression of ABC proteins belonging to the subfamilies ABCB, ABCD, ABCF, and ABCG. The latter subfamily is known to be associated with the transport of plant terpenes. Our results shed new light on the role of ABC proteins in key mechanisms of the defensive system in seaweeds against fouling and herbivory.
