Similarities between the biochemical composition of jellyfish body and mucus

Abstract

Recognition of the importance of jellyfish in marine ecosystems is growing. Yet, the biochemical composition of the mucus that jellyfish constantly excrete is poorly characterized. Here we analyzed the macromolecular (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and elemental (carbon and nitrogen) composition of the body and mucus of five scyphozoan jellyfish species (Aurelia aurita, Chrysaora fulgida, Chrysaora pacifica, Eupilema inexpectata and Rhizostoma pulmo). We found that the relative contribution of the different macromolecules and elements in the jellyfish body and mucus was similar across all species, with protein being the major component in all samples (81 ± 4% of macromolecules; 3.6 ± 3.1% of dry weight, DW) followed by lipids (13 ± 4% of macromolecules; 0.5 ± 0.4%DW) and carbohydrates (6 ± 3% of macromolecules; 0.3 ± 0.4%DW). The energy content of the jellyfish matter ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 KJ g−1 DW. Carbon and nitrogen content was 3.7 ± 3.0 and 1.0 ± 0.8%DW, respectively. The average ratios of protein:lipid:carbohydrate and carbon:nitrogen for all samples were 14.6:2.3:1 and 3.8:1, respectively. Our study highlights the biochemical similarity between the jellyfish body and mucus and provides convenient and valuable ratios to support the integration of jellyfish into trophic and biogeochemical models.

Mucus secretions in Cnidarian, an ecological, adaptive and evolutive tool

“…In general, mucus in the Animalia kingdom is predominantly composed of water (approximately 95% of its total wet mass), while the remaining 5% is composed of mucins, phospholipids, cholesterol, salt, lipids, fatty acids and proteins with defensive purpose, such as lysozyme, immunoglobulins and defensine (Marshall and Wright ,1991;Celli et al, 2005;Bansil & Turner 2006;Pearson et al, 2011;Hubot et al, 2022).…”

“…Mucus of Cnidaria is composed principally, as for other Metazoa, of water at a percentage around 95%, with the remaining part composed by glycoproteins ( 3%) and a mixture of other molecules ( 2%), mostly represented by both inorganic salts (NaCl) and organic compounds like peptides, nucleic acids, lipids, and antibodies (Stabili et al, 2015;Bakshani et al, 2018;Hubot et al, 2022). These components, mainly glycoproteins, manage the mucus elasticity and viscosity (Bansil and Turner, 2018) useful in the defense (trough antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides), lubrification of underlying epithelia and act as a trap for food particles and transport to digestive system (Bakshani et al, 2018;Hubot et al, 2022). It has been reported the presence of nematocysts and toxins in the mucus of scyphomedusae (Shanks and Graham, 1988).…”

“…To our best knowledge, mucus macromolecular composition (proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) and the C/N ratio in cnidarian has been described for few species including mainly belonging to Anthozoa and Scyphozoa (Ducklow and Mitchell, 1979;Ducklow and Mitchell, 1991;Vacelet and Thomassin, 1991;Stabili et al, 2015;Hubot et al, 2022). Ducklow and Mitchell (1991), studied the composition variability of the mucus of different Anthozoa species, highlighting its utilization by microbial communities and the protective role of mucus especially related to water insolubility, chemical resistance to degradation, and inhibiting properties allowing a long degradation time by bacteria.…”

“…Ducklow and Mitchell (1991), studied the composition variability of the mucus of different Anthozoa species, highlighting its utilization by microbial communities and the protective role of mucus especially related to water insolubility, chemical resistance to degradation, and inhibiting properties allowing a long degradation time by bacteria. In Scyphozoa, Hubot et al, 2022, evaluated the mucus macromolecules in the species Aurelia aurita, Chrysaora fulgida, Chrysaora pacifica, Eupilema inexpectata, and Rhizostoma pulmo concluding a non-species-specific composition, highlighting the absence of data that demonstrate the variation in mucus biochemical features, related to different conditions and situations as feeding, reproduction and stress proposed by…”

Combination of Solid State and Submerged Fermentation Strategies to Produce a New Jellyfish-Based Food

“…However, since jellyfish body tissues have a total protein, lipid and carbohydrate content of 7.3 ± 3.6% DW [ 18 ], they cannot be directly used as a substrate for fermentation by themselves, but they can be proposed as an ingredient for fermented food preparation.…”