The multilayered cuticle underlying structural coloration in red algae shares features with the metazoan extracellular matrix

The cuticle of certain red macroalgae is arranged in finely organized lamellae, resulting in a blue structural color. This coloration is a physical phenomenon of light interference, observed in many living organisms, which is distinct from colors resulting from the chemistry of pigments. Although the cuticle forms a boundary between the algae and their environment, located in the outer part of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the epidermis, there is a lack of data regarding the molecular components involved in its assembly.

Analysis of the cuticle of Chondrus crispus has revealed the Lamellae Cohesive Protein, a key protein that shares common characteristics with the von Willebrand Factor A protein domain, which is highly represented in the ECM of animals, particularly in protein-protein interactions and interactions with sulfated polysaccharides. The findings of this study are essential for advancing our knowledge about cuticle biosynthesis in macroalgae, particularly during their complex life cycle, marked by major structural changes in their ECM.

The study also examined the evolutionary conservation of the proteins, suggesting the hypothesis that the first cuticles emerged from a common ancestor among red algae. Furthermore, those with more complex architectures, with color derived from their structure, offer insights into the design of bio-inspired synthetic materials for the future.

Bibliography

G. Philippe, O. Godfroy, F. Beisson, A. Gautier, D. Jouanneau, S. Le Panse, E. Com, L. Delage, M. Czjzek, E. Ficko-Blean, & J. Collén, The multilayered cuticle underlying structural coloration in red algae shares features with the metazoan extracellular matrix, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 123 (30) e2610789123, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2610789123

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 899546”