title: Shedding light on ovothiol biosynthesis in marine metazoans.
abstract: Ovothiol, isolated from marine invertebrate eggs, is considered one of the most powerful antioxidant with potential for drug development. However, its biological functions in marine organisms still represent a matter of debate. In sea urchins, the most accepted view is that ovothiol protects the eggs by the high oxidative burst at fertilization. In this work we address the role of ovothiol during sea urchin development to give new insights on ovothiol biosynthesis in metazoans. The gene involved in ovothiol biosynthesis OvoA was identified in Paracentrotus lividus genome (PlOvoA). PlOvoA embryo expression significantly increased at the pluteus stage and was up-regulated by metals at concentrations mimicking polluted sea-water and by cyclic toxic algal blooms, leading to ovothiol biosynthesis. In silico analyses of the PlOvoA upstream region revealed metal and stress responsive elements. Structural protein models highlighted conserved active site residues likely responsible for ovothiol biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that OvoA evolved in most marine metazoans and was lost in bony vertebrates during the transition from the aquatic to terrestrial environment. These results highlight the crucial role of OvoA in protecting embryos released in seawater from environmental cues, thus allowing the survival under different conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Migliaccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Aniello
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merlino
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008670:Metals; D008762:Methylhistidines / Q000378:metabolism*; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D010453:Peptide Synthases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D020218:Response Elements; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D008762:Methylhistidines; C061475:ovothiol A; D010453:Peptide Synthases