Novel molecular factors in nematocyst assembly and morphogenesis
Final Report Abstract
In project 1 we performed a proteomic study of the Nematostella vectensis (starlet sea anemone) matrisome from different life stages and analyzed its cellular distribution. The aim was to trace evolutionary roots of extracellular matrix (ECM) domain proteins found in nematocysts (cnidarian stinging organelles) within the cellular ECM. Our study not only allowed a global evolutionary comparison of the nematocyst and cellular ECM proteomes in a model cnidarian species, but also offers important tools and datasets for the cnidarian research community that can be used in the context of regeneration, wound healing or nutrition. Furthermore, we have characterized a novel group of proline-rich proteins of cnidarian nematocysts designated as CPPs. These highly diverse molecules that bear resemblance to plant cell wall proteins (HPRGs) and show minicollagen-like features are wide-spread in the cnidarian phylum and constitute novel structural components of the nematocyst wall and tubule. Functional and biophysical analyses demonstrated collagen-like features of CPPs that contribute to the stability of the nematocyst capsule. In project 2 we characterized the role of myosin II for the morphogenesis of the cnidarian stinging organelle. Our data demonstrated a hitherto unknown function of actomyosin networks for nematocyst tubule formation by showing that myosin II initiates and stabilizes vesicle membrane protrusion. In addition, we have redefined the glycoprotein NOWA as a major tubule antigen, which plays a role in its invagination process. Our work has essentially contributed to the understanding of nematocyst formation by defining the molecular functions of these two factors that are highly conserved throughout the cnidarian clade.
Publications
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Extracellular matrix and morphogenesis in cnidarians: a tightly knit relationship. Essays in Biochemistry, 63(3), 407-416.
Bergheim, Bruno Gideon & Özbek, Suat
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New Class of Crosslinker-Free Nanofiber Biomaterials from Hydra Nematocyst Proteins. Scientific Reports, 9(1).
Bentele, Theresa; Amadei, Federico; Kimmle, Esther; Veschgini, Mariam; Linke, Philipp; Sontag-González, Mariana; Tennigkeit, Jutta; Ho, Anthony D.; Özbek, Suat & Tanaka, Motomu
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A small molecule screen identifies novel inhibitors of mechanosensory nematocyst discharge in Hydra. Scientific Reports, 11(1).
Hofmann, Diana; Garg, Niharika; Grässle, Simone; Vanderheiden, Sylvia; Bergheim, Bruno Gideon; Bräse, Stefan; Jung, Nicole & Özbek, Suat
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A predatory gastrula leads to symbiosis-independent settlement in Aiptasia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(40).
Maegele, Ira; Rupp, Sebastian; Özbek, Suat; Guse, Annika; Hambleton, Elizabeth A. & Holstein, Thomas W.
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Non-muscle myosin II drives critical steps of nematocyst morphogenesis. iScience, 26(3), 106291.
Garg, Niharika; Štibler, Urška Knez; Eismann, Björn; Mercker, Moritz; Bergheim, Bruno Gideon; Linn, Anna; Tuchscherer, Patrizia; Engel, Ulrike; Redl, Stefan; Marciniak-Czochra, Anna; Holstein, Thomas W.; Hess, Michael W. & Özbek, Suat
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Spatio-temporal Coordination of Active Deformation Forces and Wnt / Hippo-Yap Signaling inHydraRegeneration. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Suzuki, Ryo; Hiraiwa, Tetsuya; Tursch, Anja; Höger, Stefanie; Hayashi, Kentaro; Özbek, Suat; Holstein, Thomas W. & Tanaka, Motomu
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Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces axial elasticity patterns of Hydra extracellular matrix. iScience, 26(4), 106416.
Veschgini, Mariam; Suzuki, Ryo; Kling, Svenja; Petersen, Hendrik O.; Bergheim, Bruno Gideon; Abuillan, Wasim; Linke, Philipp; Kaufmann, Stefan; Burghammer, Manfred; Engel, Ulrike; Stein, Frank; Özbek, Suat; Holstein, Thomas W. & Tanaka, Motomu
