Core Insights - The research team from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has revealed a unique adaptation mechanism of the deep-sea hydrothermal animal, Alvinella pompejana, demonstrating a "poisoning the poison" strategy [1][3] - The findings provide new perspectives for understanding animal adaptive evolution and open new directions for biomineralization research and environmental toxicology [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The study was conducted in the Okinawa Trough hydrothermal area, where Alvinella pompejana thrives in extreme environments with high concentrations of toxic substances like hydrogen sulfide and heavy metals [2] - The species exhibits unique characteristics, including a rare bright yellow coloration due to the presence of yellow granules in its epithelial cells, which are primarily composed of arsenic and sulfur [2] - The research team utilized whole-genome sequencing and proteomics to identify that these granules are enriched with multidrug resistance transport proteins and hemoglobin, which are crucial for arsenic transport and detoxification [2] Group 2: Unique Mechanism - The research proposes that Alvinella pompejana has evolved a unique arsenic-hydrogen sulfide coupling detoxification mechanism, where arsenic is accumulated from high-concentration biofilms and transported to various tissues [3] - Hydrogen sulfide is delivered to detoxifying cells via hemoglobin, leading to the formation of insoluble arsenic trisulfide minerals, effectively locking away the toxins [3] - This discovery marks the first identification of arsenic mineralization within animal cells, highlighting the remarkable evolutionary adaptations of life to environmental challenges [3]

Core Insights - The research team from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the unique adaptation mechanism of the deep-sea hydrothermal animal, the Alvinella pompejana, revealing its "poisoning the poison" strategy for survival in extreme environments [1][4] Group 1: Research Findings - The study highlights that the Alvinella pompejana thrives in extreme conditions near hydrothermal vents, where high-temperature seawater contains toxic substances such as hydrogen sulfide and heavy metals [1][3] - The species exhibits rare characteristics, including a bright yellow coloration due to the presence of yellow particles in its epidermal cells, and it is found closer to hydrothermal vents than other common hydrothermal animals like shrimp and mussels [1][3] - The Alvinella pompejana accumulates a significant amount of inorganic arsenic, with some individuals containing arsenic levels as high as 1% of their body weight, yet they remain unharmed in such high-concentration environments [1][3] Group 2: Mechanism of Adaptation - Further research indicates that the yellow particles in the epidermal cells are primarily composed of arsenic and sulfur, matching the composition of realgar [3][4] - The study combines whole-genome sequencing and proteomics to reveal that these particles are enriched with multidrug resistance transport proteins and hemoglobin, which are crucial for arsenic transport and hydrogen sulfide binding [4] - The research proposes a unique detoxification mechanism where the Alvinella pompejana utilizes both arsenic and hydrogen sulfide to detoxify itself, forming insoluble realgar minerals within its cells, thus providing insights into adaptive evolution and potential applications in biomineralization and environmental toxicology [4]