Stability of the cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbiosis is primarily determined by symbiont cell-cycle arrest

作者：Lucy M. Gorman, Trevor R. Tivey, Evan H Raymond, I. Ashley, Clinton A. Oakley, Arthur R. Grossman, Virginia M. Weis, S. Davy · 发表于：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1073/pnas.2412396122 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Medicine

Significance The stability of the cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbiosis that underpins the success of coral reefs is facilitated by the regulation of host and symbiont biomass, yet our understanding of the processes involved is limited. Our study simultaneously measures all proposed biomass regulatory mechanisms [symbiont cell-cycle arrest (CC), host apoptosis (AP) and autophagy (AU), and symbiont expulsion (EX)] and assesses their relative importance during symbiosis establishment. Our modeling approach confirms the increasing importance of CC as the symbiosis becomes established, irrespective of symbiont species. However, it also highlights how even a subtle shift in the relative influence of just one of these regulatory processes allows for fine-scale control of the symbiont population, which is important for maintaining stability under environmental change.