[Coral-List] Crown of thorns starfish genetics and possible biocontrol

[Douglas Fenner]

Biocontrol: Crown-of-thorns no more

The starfish *Acanthaster planci* destroys coral reefs. Whole- genome
sequences provide clues to the proteins that mediate *A. planci* outbreaks
— information that might be used to help protect coral.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature21905.html?WT..ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2

Not open-access

Original article:

The crown-of-thorns starfish genome as a guide for biocontrol of this coral
reef pest
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT..ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2

open-access

The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS, the *Acanthaster planci* species group)
is a highly fecund predator of reef-building corals throughout the
Indo-Pacific region1
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2#ref1>.
COTS population outbreaks cause substantial loss of coral cover,
diminishing the integrity and resilience of reef ecosystems2
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2#ref2>
, 3
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2#ref3>
, 4
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2#ref4>
, 5
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2#ref5>
, 6
<http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature22033.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20170406&spMailingID=53784341&spUserID=MjA1NTA3MjA0OQS2&spJobID=1140784154&spReportId=MTE0MDc4NDE1NAS2#ref6>.
Here we sequenced genomes of COTS from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
and Okinawa, Japan to identify gene products that underlie species-specific
communication and could potentially be used in biocontrol strategies. We
focused on water-borne chemical plumes released from aggregating COTS,
which make the normally sedentary starfish become highly active. Peptide
sequences detected in these plumes by mass spectrometry are encoded in the
COTS genome and expressed in external tissues. The exoproteome released by
aggregating COTS consists largely of signalling factors and hydrolytic
enzymes, and includes an expanded and rapidly evolving set of
starfish-specific ependymin-related proteins. These secreted proteins may
be detected by members of a large family of olfactory-receptor-like
G-protein-coupled receptors that are expressed externally, sometimes in a
sex-specific manner. This study provides insights into COTS-specific
communication that may guide the generation of peptide mimetics for use on
reefs with COTS outbreaks.

Cheers,  Doug

-- 
Douglas Fenner
Contractor for NOAA NMFS, and consultant
"have regulator, will travel"
PO Box 7390
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799  USA

phone 1 684 622-7084

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