Deep-Sea Comb Jellies Unveil Mysteries of Environmental Adaptation and Human Biology

Researchers from various disciplines of biology have used tools provided by the NSF-supported Center for High-Energy X-ray Sciences at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source to investigate deep-sea and shallow-water comb jellies. The study has revealed how ocean creatures have adapted to thrive in vastly different environments, with comb jellies developing differently shaped lipid molecules in their cell membranes.

The cells of comb jellies are able to form membranes with an optimal level of stability based on their specific environment. If deep-sea comb jellies are brought to the surface, their membrane structure breaks down and they melt due to the lack of external pressure. Conversely, the membranes of shallow-water jellies are not dynamic enough to function properly when exposed to deep-sea levels of pressure.

This research has also shed light on how deep-sea animals survive in extreme environments, but it has also potential implications for human biology and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Plasmalogens, which are lipids found in the membranes of deep-sea comb jellies and also abundant in human brain, play a crucial role in human physiology and disease progression. The loss of these lipids has been linked to disease advancement and aging in humans. The discoveries made regarding plasmalogen structure could provide valuable insights into their role in human physiology and disease progression.