Wound Closure in the Invasive Green Alga Caulerpa taxifolia by Enzymatic Activation of a Protein Cross-Linker

摘要

The injury to a multicellular organism is generally not fatal,as regenerative tissue can be formed adjacent to the wound.Therefore,a repair mechanism for the injured cells themselves is not required.In contrast,the survival of a unicellular organism upon injury is strongly dependent on processes that allow the cell to cope with physical damage.This is especially true for siphonous green algae such as Caulerpa taxifolia,which consist of a single polyploid(with multiple nuclei)cell that can reach up to several meters in length.C.taxifolia is an invasive tropical alga that has spread rapidly after its introduction into the Mediterranean Sea and the North American Pacific,and has thereby massively altered the native ecosystems of these regions.