(1) The nervous systems of the scyphomedusae Chrysaora hysoscella, Cyanea capillata and Cyanea lamarckii (Phylum Cnidaria) were stained using an anti-serum against the anthozoan neuropeptide Antho-RFamide.
(2) The system of a related anthozoan coelenterate, the sea pansy Renilla reniformis, however, is oxygen dependent, requiring two organic components, luciferin and luciferase.
(3) Luciferase from the anthozoan coelenterate Renilla reniformis catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of luciferin consuming 1 mol of O2 per mol of luciferin oxidized and producing 1 mol of CO2, 1 mol of oxyluciferin, and light (lambdaB, 480 nm) with a 5.5% quantum yield.
(4) We find that all anthozoan species tested possess mtDNA in the form of circular molecules, whereas all scyphozoan, cubozoan, and hydrozoan species tested display mtDNA in the form of linear molecules.
(5) An acidic, low molecular weight (18 400--19 100) protein capable of activating porcine brain phosphodiesterase in the presence of calcium has been purified 2700-fold from the anthozoan coelenterate, Renilla reniformis.
(6) The cellular localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was investigated in the pennatulid anthozoan Renilla koellikeri by means of peroxidase-antiperoxidase-immunohistochemistry with an antiserum against 5-HT-formaldehyde-protein conjugate.
(7) Renilla reniformis is an anthozoan coelenterate capable of exhibiting bioluminescence.
(8) Antho-RWamide I (less than Glu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2) and Antho-RWamide II (less than Glu-Gly-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2), the second and third anthozoan neuropeptides to be identified, both induced slow contractions of several endodermal muscles in four species of sea anemone.
(9) In addition to the known (20S,22E)-cholesta-1,4,22-triene-16 beta,18, 20-triol-3-one, (20S,22E)-24-methyl-cholesta-1,4,22-triene-16 beta,18,20-triol-3-one, and (20S,22E)-24-methylcholesta-4,22-diene-16 beta,18,20-triol-3-one, the methanol extract of the Mediterranean anthozoan Antipathes subpinnata was shown to contain five new sterols: (20S,22E)-cholesta-1,4,22-triene-18,20-diol-3-one, (20S,22E)-24-methylcholesta-1,4,22-triene-18,20-diol-3-one, (20S)-cholest-4-ene-16 beta,18,20-triol-3-one, (20S,22E)-cholesta-4,22-diene- 16 beta,18,20-triol-3-one, and (20S,22E)-24-methylcholesta-4,22-diene-16 beta,18,20-triol-3-one, whose stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence.
(10) Luciferase from the anthozoan coelenterate Renilla reniformis (Renilla luciferin:oxygen 2-oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.13.12.5.)
(11) This paper reports the results of a pharmacological survey of drug action on muscle preparations of the anthozoan Bunodosoma caissarum.
(12) Unlike the responses to Antho-RFamide (the first anthozoan neuropeptide described), these were simple contractions with no change in spontaneous activity.
Zoanthodeme
Definition:
(n.) The zooids of a compound anthozoan, collectively.