Meeting Abstract

P2.47  Monday, Jan. 5  Developing cDNA libraries for analysis of receptors involved in the settlement and metamorphosis of a dominant biofouling tubeworm, Hydroides elegans PEROTTI, Elizabeth A.*; TRAN, Cawa; HUANG, Ying; CAMERON, R. Andrew; HADFIELD, Michael G.; University of Hawai’i, Manoa; University of Hawai’i, Manoa; University of Hawai’i, Manoa; California Institute of Technology; University of Hawai’i, Manoa eperotti@hawaii.edu

Larval detection of specific molecular cues on the substratum during settlement and metamorphosis is still a process we know very little about. The tubeworm Hydroides elegans is a significant problem fouler in warm water ports around the world and is an excellent candidate for investigating molecular reception during larval settlement and metamorphosis. By developing cDNA libraries and using other downstream molecular techniques, we are able to examine and identify larval receptor systems and provide a significant contribution toward understanding the interaction between bacterial ligands and larval receptors during recruitment and metamorphosis of marine biofoulers. Our primary goal is to develop stage-specific gene libraries for pre-competent and metamorphically competent larvae of H. elegans that can be arrayed and examined for specific receptor genes in several ways. Specifically, we have synthesized a 3-5 RACE library from H. elegans larvae and will create a cloned, arrayed, and printed library. Likely candidates for receptors during settlement that can be screened using these libraries include lectin receptors, ligand-gated ion channels, and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Preliminary results indicates that cDNA from competent larvae have abundant GPCRs. This study is an important step in identifying both the nature and the location of receptors for bacterial ligands that stimulate larval settlement and for determining the chemical cues and molecular specificity of the stimulating ligands.