Elysia chlorotica feeds on the intertidal alga Vaucheria litorea. It punctures the algal cell wall with its radula, then holds the algal strand firmly in its mouth and sucks out the contents as from a straw. Instead of digesting the entire cell contents, or passing the contents through its gut unscathed, it retains only the chloroplasts, by storing them within its extensive digestive system. It then take… WebbKleptoplasty or kleptoplastidy is a symbiotic phenomenon whereby plastids, notably chloroplasts from algae, are sequestered by host organisms.The word is derived from Kleptes (κλέπτης) which is Greek for thief.The alga is eaten normally and partially digested, leaving the plastid intact. The plastids are maintained within the host, temporarily …
Solar-powered sea slug harnesses stolen plant genes
WebbPhotosynthesis is really important for the plant because it provides the plant with food: some of the glucose is used immediately, to give the plant energy in the process of respiration. some of ... Webb20 okt. 2024 · Sacoglossan sea slugs (Elysia timida in this study) are probably the only … cyon web
Photosynthesis from stolen chloroplasts can support sea slug ...
Webb29 sep. 2024 · The present study indicates that photosynthesis enhances the reproductive fitness of kleptoplast-bearing sea slugs, confirming the biological relevance of this remarkable association between a metazoan and an algal-derived organelle. 1. Introduction Sacoglossa is a group of sap-sucking sea slugs that feed on macroalgae. Webb9 okt. 2024 · Photosynthesis and Chloroplasts. You will read that only plants, algae, and some bacteria are photosynthetic. There is an exception to this, however. One species of sea slug has found a way to steal chloroplasts, store them in glands lining its digestive tract, and live on the sugar that is produced (Milius, 2010). WebbThe basis of long-term maintenance of photosynthesis in this sea slug was thought to be explained by extensive horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from the nucleus of the alga to the animal nucleus, followed by expression of algal genes in the gut to provide essential plastid-destined proteins. cyon-r3