Effects of stressors on differential gene expression and secondary metabolites by Axinella corrugata
Date of Award
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Abstract
Sponges are an important source of bioactive marine natural products, or secondary metabolites. The common Caribbean reef sponge, Axinella corrugata, produces an antitumor and antibacterial chemical, stevensine. This study determined whether environmental stressors, such as elevated temperature and exposure to Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae, affect the production of stevensine by A.corrugata and if the stressors caused A.corrugata to exhibit differential gene expression. Temperature stress resulted in no significant change in the production of stevensine; only two genes were significantly differentially expressed, including hsp70. Larval stressed resulted in increased production of stevensine and significant differential gene expression (more than seventy genes). This study suggests that A.corrugata may be resilient to elevations in temperature and that one of stevensine's roles in nature is as an antifoulant.
Extent
ix, 41 p. : ill. (some col.)
Recommended Citation
Grima, Jennifer., "Effects of stressors on differential gene expression and secondary metabolites by Axinella corrugata" (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019. 750.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_6/750
Identifier
FADT3360781
Comments
by Jennifer Grima.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013|Includes bibliography.|Mode of access: World Wide Web.|System requirements: Adobe Reader.|by Jennifer Grima.