Salamander is world's first photosynthetic vertebrate
A solar salamander? Scientists find photosynthetic organisms living inside a vertebrate's cells for the first time.
By Bryan NelsonTue, Aug 03 2010 at 1:49 AM EST
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SOLAR-MANDER: The spotted salamander's embryos have symbiotic algae living inside them. (Photo: Wiki Commons/public domain) Scientists have long believed that only plants, algae, some bacteria, and a few invertebrates were capable of taking advantage of photosynthesis, which converts sunlight directly into energy. But now, for the first time, a photosynthetic vertebrate has been found, according to Nature.
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The incredible creature is none other than the fairly common spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum). Ironically, the spotted salamander is not a new species for researchers, and it has long been known that the animal's embryos share a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae. That relationship, however, was always assumed to be an outside one, whereby the algae and the salamander work separately toward a fair exchange of resources.
It turns out that researchers just weren't looking closely enough. While studying a batch of salamander embryos, scientist Ryan Kerney of Dalhousie University saw something different than the prevailing dogma would suggest — a bright green color coming from inside their cells.
That color usually indicates the presence of chlorophyll, which is the light-absorbing green pigment that makes photosynthesis possible.
"On a lark, I decided to take a long-exposure fluorescent image of a pre-hatchling salamander embryo," said Kerney. After backing that experiment up using transmission electron microscopy, he confirmed his suspicion. There were algal symbionts located inside the salamander cells.
In fact, the symbiotic partners were often found bordering mitochondria, organelles responsible for generating a cell's energy. Thus, it's likely that the mitochondria were taking direct advantage of the oxygen and carbohydrate, byproducts of photosynthesis that were generated by the algae.
The reason this discovery is surprising is because all vertebrates have what's known as an adaptive immune system, which naturally destroys any foreign biological material found inside the cells. How the algae in the salamander's cells bypass this defense is a mystery.
Even more interesting, Kerney also discovered that algae is present in the oviducts of adult female spotted salamanders, where the embryos form in their sacs. This means that it's possible symbiotic algae are passed from mother to offspring during reproduction.
"I wonder if algae could be getting into the germ [sex] cells," commented David Wake, from the University of California, Berkeley, who watched Kerney's presentation. "That would really challenge the dogma [of vertebrate cells disposing of foreign biological material]. But why not?"
Although this is the first time such a close co-existence with a photosynthetic organism has been found in a vertebrate, the discovery leaves open the question about if other animals might harbor similar traits.
"I think that if people start looking, we may see many more examples," said developmental biologist Daniel Buchholz.
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Comments
Chris
04/13/2011 08:16 AM
Can you imagine if we can somehow incorporate photosynthesis in our species. Just think, our sense of nutrients could primarily be a constantly renewable source of energy every day. Food would be a secondary option, world hunger a thing of the past. It might even encourage more research onto solar energy and help our energy crisis. Imagine if we made a break-trough in Sun-science: BOOM! no world hunger and no energy bill. Nice.
Mitch Welch
12/04/2010 03:36 AM
What are the chances we could manipulate the human body to accomodate photosynthetic organisms? I have always maintained that we as humans inhibit our own evolution by denying natural selection. Maybe its time we moved forward. It would certainly shed new light on the world hunger crisis.
JennaMonty
03/24/2011 14:51 PM
Dude, I was thinking the same thing!
Nikolai Hollomon
12/11/2010 09:49 AM
We already do exhibit a very primitive form of photosynthesis, while it may not be in the form of energy, exposure to sunlight does allow certain chemical reactions to take place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin#Human_adaptation
The pigment in our skin allows us to be photoperiodic, i.e. wake up with the sun and sleep at night. During.... More
Scott
02/12/2011 16:21 PM
Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland when light hits the retina at a certain angle, (sundown) helping us relax and move toward sleep. (Persistence of light in urban has been linked to insomnia)
Your skin doesn't help you sleep.
Also, you are thinking of eugenics, not Social Darwinism.
TTY
12/02/2010 12:21 PM
Very interesting and not really surprised that it occurs. Isn't it highly likely that mitochondria were once seperate organisms?
Krystalbooger
10/22/2010 23:04 PM
I've been working on this theory 4 years! Now maybe my professors will take me seriously!!!
Al
09/16/2010 10:15 AM
The adaptive immune system actually functions purely in the intercellular spaces so could not possibly detect and destroy foreign material within the bodies own cells (this -and hypervariable surface receptor proteins- is why HIV is such and aggresive pathogen).
jig
12/14/2010 19:27 PM
This is actually not true. The adaptive immune response deals with both extracellular and intracellular pathogens, via the use of Cytotoxic T cells, which recognize the surface antigen Human Leukocyte Antigen 1 (HLA1 also known as MHC1) which are constantly processign and presenting peptides found inside the cell. When a cell is infected, unique antigens of the organisms are presented. All viruses and many bacteria and parasites live intracellularly, and this is our nature immune response. The.... More
Pete Boyd
10/08/2010 08:38 AM
Also, doesn't the bodies immune response continually destroy the HIV virus in its infective and active state? From my studies, I understand that HIV only starts to kill when dormant viral genetic material becomes active and decimates T helper populations. To do this, it has to incorporate into the host DNA.
Pete Boyd
10/08/2010 08:24 AM
Wouldn't cytotoxic T cells be expected to neutralise any cells presenting endogenously sourced antigens from intracellular pathogens on MHC class 1 molecules?
Jim
09/23/2010 01:04 AM
The mammalian (amphibians have fairly similar) adaptive immune system mostly consists of two units. These are humoral (antibody/B-cell mediated) and cellular (mediated by T-Cells, a subset of which is attacked by HIV). It is true that the humoral subset of the adaptive immune system targets intercellular antigens (molecules that are recognized as "foreign"). However, the cellular component is capable of recognizing intracellular antigens. The method is via MHC I presentation to cytotoxic.... More
Empress Genie
08/20/2010 20:38 PM
I had never seen a large salamander before seeing these bulgy eyes looking at me. It was not spotted and was about 7" long nose to end of tail. I like lizards, snakes, some insects and other creatures, but this critter gave me jolt - it was the Betty Davis eyes. I keep looking for it daily, but guess it only wanted to give me one chance. I find your article extremely interesting. Maybe Betty will lay eggs and let me see them.
kleigh
08/09/2010 22:46 PM
:)
Guest
08/09/2010 15:06 PM
Dawn of the Ents.
