Scientists from diverse fields have collaborated to investigate how marine organisms adapt to different environments, thanks to funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation. By employing tools from the NSF-sponsored Center for High-Energy X-ray Sciences at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, researchers studied comb jellies found in both deep and shallow water.
Interestingly, the study revealed that comb jellies living in deep sea have developed distinct lipid molecules in their cell membranes, enabling them to maintain optimal stability based on their habitat. Conversely, shallow-water comb jellies struggle to function properly at deep-sea pressure due to the stiffness of their membranes. These findings not only enhance our understanding of survival mechanisms in extreme environments but also hold potential for insights into human biology and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The researchers discovered that plasmalogens, which are abundant in deep-sea comb jelly membranes and also present in the human brain, play a crucial role in maintaining proper membrane function. The loss of these molecules has been linked to disease progression and aging in humans. Further investigation into plasmalogen structure could provide valuable insights into their function in human physiology and disease processes, potentially opening up new avenues for treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
