Meeting Abstract
Moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) polyps form jellyfish in response to the increase of a naturally occurring protein in polyp tissue, and in the presence of a drug with structural similarity called indomethacin. We wanted to know how widespread this drug-induced response is within the Scyphozoa, and by extension, gain insights into the evolution of strobilation induction. We tested indomethacin on eight Syphozoan species, one cubozoan and two hydrozoans. We found that indomethacin-induction of jellyfish formation is clade specific, with some species showing altered phenotypic responses not associated with jellyfish production. We also discovered that indomethacin permanently suppresses the polyp phenotype, so that animals continuously exposed to indomethacin do not regrow polyps. In one species, we tested the effects of indomethacin on planulae, and discovered indomethacin also suppresses planula metamorphosis. Together, these results suggest this drug, and possibly its naturally occurring structural counterpart, may be suppressing polyp morphology in a species-specific manner.
