First report of phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in two intertidal sea anemone species of Argentina

Abstract

The presence of immune responses within sea anemone species has received little attention, in comparison with coral species, so we decided to investigate the phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in ectoderm, endoderm and tentacles of actiniarians Aulactinia marplatensis and Bunodosoma zamponii, the most common species in intertidal zone of Mar del Plata, Argentina. Enzyme activities were detected in all tissues evaluated with some differences among tissues and species. Phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities are associated with the mechanisms of innate immunity in invertebrates, and the high production of phenoloxidase observed in B. zamponii would provide a continual level of resistance to infection and this species to be less susceptible to stress and disease, compared to A. marplatensis. This study, represents the first step toward specific immune information about the mentioned sea anemone species of Argentina, and thus permits prediction of the potential effects of environmental factors on immune response.