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Ratiometric imaging of gastrodermal lipid bodies in coral–dinoflagellate endosymbiosis

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Abstract

Cnidaria–dinoflagellate endosymbiosis is the phenomenon of autotrophic symbionts living inside the gastrodermal cells of their animal hosts. The molecular mechanism that regulates this association remains unclear. Using quantitative microscopy, we now provide evidence that the dynamic lipid changes in gastrodermal “lipid bodies” (LBs) reflect the symbiotic status of the host cell and its symbiont in the hermatypic coral Euphyllia glabrescens. By dual-emission ratiometric imaging with a solvatochromic fluorescent probe, Nile red (9-diethylamino-5H-benzo[α]phenoxazine-5-one), we showed that the in situ distribution of polar versus neutral lipids in LBs in living gastrodermal cells and symbionts can be analyzed. The ratio of Nile red fluorescence at red (R) versus green (G) wavelength region (i.e., R/G ratio) correlated with the relative molar ratio of polar (P) versus neutral (NP) lipids (i.e., P/NP ratio). The R/G ratio in host LBs increased after bleaching, indicating a decrease in neutral lipid accumulation in gastrodermal cells. On the other hand, neutral lipid accumulation inside the symbiont LBs resulted in gradual decreases of the R/G ratio as a result of bleaching. In comparison with the bleaching event, there was no relative lipid concentration change in host LBs under continual light or dark treatments as shown by insignificant R/G ratio shift. Patterns of R/G ratio shift in symbiont LBs were also different between corals undergoing bleaching and continual light/dark treatment. In the latter, there was little lipid accumulation in symbionts, with no resulting R/G ratio decrease. These results, demonstrating that the symbiotic status positively correlated with morphological and compositional changes of lipid bodies, not only highlight the pivotal role of LBs, but also implicate an involvement of lipid trafficking in regulating the endosymbiosis.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Science Council NSC 95-2311-B-291-003-MY2, and by intramural funding from the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium. We thank members of the endosymbiosis group, two anonymous reviewers, and the editor for comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan Coral Research Center, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, 2 Houwan Road, Checheng, Pingtung, 944, Taiwan, ROC

    Y.-J. Luo, L.-H. Wang, S.-E. Peng, Y.-Y. Hsiao, H.-J. Huang & C.-S. Chen

  2. Department of Biological Science and Technology, I-Sou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC

    W.-N. U. Chen

  3. Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

    J. T.-C. Tzen

  4. Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC

    L.-S. Fang

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  1. Y.-J. Luo
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  9. C.-S. Chen
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Correspondence to C.-S. Chen.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Dr. Ruth Gates

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Luo, YJ., Wang, LH., Chen, WN.U. et al. Ratiometric imaging of gastrodermal lipid bodies in coral–dinoflagellate endosymbiosis. Coral Reefs 28, 289–301 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-008-0462-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-008-0462-8

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