title: Changes in fatty acid composition in the giant clam Tridacna maxima in response to thermal stress.
abstract: Temperature can modify membrane fluidity and thus affects cellular functions and physiological activities. This study examines lipid remodelling in the marine symbiotic organism, Tridacna maxima, during a time series of induced thermal stress, with an emphasis on the morphology of their symbiont Symbiodinium First, we show that the French Polynesian giant clams harbour an important proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA), which reflects their tropical location. Second, in contrast to most marine organisms, the total lipid content in giant clams remained constant under stress, though some changes in their composition were shown. Third, the stress-induced changes in fatty acid (FA) diversity were accompanied by an upregulation of genes involved in lipids and ROS pathways. Finally, our microscopic analysis revealed that for the giant clam's symbiont, Symbiodinium, thermal stress led to two sequential cell death processes. Our data suggests that the degradation of Symbiodinium cells could provide an additional source of energy to T maxima in response to heat stress.
authors.affiliation: EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia University of French Polynesia-Ifremer-ILM-IRD, UMR241 EIO, BP 6570, 98702 Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia Département de recherche agronomique appliquée, Service du développement rural, BP 100, Papeete, Tahiti 98713, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Vaimiti
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dubousquet
authors.affiliation: EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 66860 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gros
authors.affiliation: EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berteaux-Lecellier
authors.affiliation: EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 66860 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Viguier
authors.affiliation: University of French Polynesia-Ifremer-ILM-IRD, UMR241 EIO, BP 6570, 98702 Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
authors.forename: Phila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raharivelomanana
authors.affiliation: EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 66860 Perpignan, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.affiliation: EPHE, PSL Research University, UPVD-CNRS, USR3278 CRIOBE, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia Université Paris-Saclay/Versailles-Saint Quentin en Yvelines, 55 Avenue de Paris, 78035 Versailles Cedex, France Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France Gael.lecellier@uvsq.fr.
authors.forename: Gaël J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lecellier
keywords: Antioxidant; Differential expression; Fatty acids; Symbiodinium; Thermal stress; Tridacna maxima