Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Mari.Time (Dissecting the mechanistic basis of moon-controlled monthly timing mechanisms in marine environments)
Período documentado: 2021-07-01 hasta 2022-12-31
Our overall objectives are to understand the molecular mechanisms how organisms, especially our main model system Platynereis dumerilii, can use light to entrain their different oscillators. How can different worms entrain to the right moon phase? We also aim to better understand the molecular and cellular nature of the oscillatory mechanisms and how the signal is conveyed to control reproductive physiology and behavior. Last, but not least, while lab experiments are useful as they provide relatively stable and controllable conditions, the lab environment is very different from the natural environment organisms evolved in. This is particularly relevant in the context of natural light. Thus, we also aim to test mutant and wildtype Platynereis worms under natural (especially light) conditions.
Understanding the impact of natural light on animals is of high ecological and environmental, as well as potentially medical relevance. Marine mass spawners, such as Platynereis, but also corals and various other marine animals and non-animals are critical for ecologically stable ecosystems in the oceans. In times of climate change and abundant artificial light it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that underly their timing, because this will allow to estimate the effects on them and to provide guided measures for their protection. A healthy and stable ocean ecology is essential for the stability of the earth’s climate.
In parallel, we successfully constructed outside tank systems, that allow the natural light to pass through without alterations. We used these tanks to sample wildtype and mutant worms and are currently in the process to prepare them for in-depth transcriptomic and proteomic analyses in comparison to samples of the same strains taken in the laboratory. This should allow us to obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of sun- versus moonlight under natural illumination conditions.
With further progression of the project we expect to gain insight into the differences between lab and field experiments, by this obtaining a better understanding how the system has adapted to its true environmental (light) conditions and to test for potential artifacts that could arise from the artificial lab conditions. We also expect to obtain more detailed molecular insight how L-Cry conveys its signals to the circalunar oscillator and how the oscillator conveys the time information further to the gonads and nervous system.