Mesogleal cells of the jellyfish are involved in the formation of mesogleal fibres

Abstract

The extracellular matrix of the jellyfish Aurelia aurita (Scyphozoa, Cnidaria), known as the mesoglea, is populated by numerous mesogleal cells (Mc). We determined the pattern of the Mc and the mesoglea, raised polyclonal antibodies (RA47) against the major mesogleal protein pA47 (47 kDa) and checked their specificity. In the mesoglea, RA47 stains pA47 itself. In immunoblots of Mc, RA47 stains bands of 120 kDa and 80 kDa; weaker staining is observed at pA47. The same staining pattern is seen on blots of jellyfish epidermal cells and of whole Hydra (Hydrozoa) or isolated mesoglea of Hydra. Our data indicate that pA47 is synthesized by Mc and epidermal cells as high molecular precursors. Using immunostaining techniques, we showed Mc to be involved in the formation of mesogleal non-collagenous (called "elastic" in classic morphological studies) fibres. The biochemical and morphological data suggest that Mc originate from the epidermis.

A novel Aurelia aurita protein mesoglein contains DSL and ZP domains

“…These cells are believed to originate from epidermis, but there is also suggestion about their origin from both epidermis and gastroderm (Ivanova-Kazas, 1995;Tardent, 1978). Our data suggest that mesogleal cells originate from the epidermis (Shaposhnikova et al, 2005).…”

“…They are strongly differing from the other mesoglea substance on these features (Napara et al, 1996a). Antibodies against one of the major mesogleal proteins with the molecular weight of about 47 kDa stain both mesogleal granules and "elastic" fibers (Shaposhnikova et al, 2005). The data indicate that the protein from mesogleal cell granules is released by exocytosis and is involved in the formation of the mesoglea ECM.…”

“…The methods of epidermis, gastroderm, mesoglea and mesogleal cells isolation have been published (Shaposhnikova et al, 2005). Polyclonal antibodies against the major mesogleal proteins of 47 kDa were raised and characterized (Shaposhnikova et al, 2005).…”

“…Polyclonal antibodies against the major mesogleal proteins of 47 kDa were raised and characterized (Shaposhnikova et al, 2005).…”

“…They actively incorporate H 3 -lysine and have typical protein-synthesizing cell morphology (Napara et al, 1996b;Shaposhnikova et al, 2005). It was shown histochemically that both the specific cell granules and the non-collagenous ("elastic") fibers contain positively charged lysine-rich glycoproteins with high contents of cystein and disulphate bonds.…”