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Cnidarians exhibit incredible reproductive diversity, with most capable of sexual and asexual reproduction. Here, we investigate factors that influence asexual reproduction in the burrowing sea anemoneNematostella vectensis,which can propagate asexually by transverse fission of the body column. By altering culture conditions, we demonstrate that the presence of a burrowing substrate strongly promotes transverse fission. In addition, we show that animal size does not affect fission rates, and that the plane of fission is fixed along the oral–aboral axis of the polyp. Homeobox transcription factors and components of the TGFβ, Notch, and FGF signalling pathways are differentially expressed in polyps undergoing physal pinching suggesting they are important regulators of transverse fission. Gene ontology analyses further suggest that during transverse fission the cell cycle is suppressed, and that cell adhesion and patterning mechanisms are downregulated to promote separation of the body column. Finally, we demonstrate that the rate of asexual reproduction is sensitive to population density. Collectively, these experiments provide a foundation for mechanistic studies of asexual reproduction inNematostella,with implications for understanding the reproductive and regenerative biology of other cnidarian species.
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Differential carbon utilization and asexual reproduction under elevated p CO 2 conditions in the model anemone, E xaiptasia pallida , hosting different symbionts: Ocean acidification enhances sea anemone fitness
- Award ID(s):
- 1316055
- PAR ID:
- 10041790
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Limnology and Oceanography
- Volume:
- 60
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 0024-3590
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 2108 to 2120
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10160
