Dr. Maria Cattell

I am interested in the cellular events involved in coral symbiont establishment and loss because this intimate relationship sustains one of the most diverse, beautiful, and ecologically and economically important ecosystems on the planet. Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the planet yet are home to 25% of marine life and support the highest biodiversity among marine habitats with an estimated 30% of fish species located on coral reefs. The productivity of reef ecosystems in clear, nutrient poor tropical waters results from the endosymbiotic relationship between the colonial corals (which are animals) and single-celled photosynthetic algae (called symbionts). When under environmental stress, like when their oceans warm, the nutritional symbiosis between the animal and algae breaks down. The loss of algal cells from coral tissue leaves the clear coral polyp on their white calcium carbonate skeletons, a condition known as coral bleaching. Failure of bleached corals to recruit new symbionts results in the death of the coral.

In my lab, I am using molecular genetic tools and techniques to study the relationship between the coral and their symbionts to better understand the mechanisms that allow for and promote their endosymbiosis. Because raising corals in aquaria and laboratory settings is difficult, we have turned to a pest of a coral relative, the sea anemones Exaiptasia diaphana (Aips.). These hardy saltwater aquarium pests also have photosynthetic algal endosymbionts living in their cells, like their coral cousins. Unlike their coral cousins, they are hard to kill. This makes the anemones perfect for studying the interactions that occur between the animals and their symbionts in a laboratory setting.

My undergraduate researchers and genetics students are using their Aips to study the molecular and genetic mechanisms that allow for and encourage symbiosis. The goal of this work is to identify gene targets for genetic manipulation in coral species that will allow corals to be better able to withstand environmental change and recover from bleaching events. We hope to execute the genetic manipulations in aquarium corals to investigate the effects of these manipulations on their ability to survive bleaching events.

Academic Background

I received my doctorate from the University of South Florida, in Tampa FL, where I studied plant insect interaction in a plant hybrid zone. I was interested in the evolutionary implications of hybridization on the hybridizing plant species and on the insect herbivores that feed on them. I started as an ecologist but ended up spending a good chunk of my dissertation describing the population genetics of the plant hybrid zone and became a molecular genetic lab rat in the process.

I have a lot of research experience in molecular genetics. After taking some time off to be home with my children, I returned to research at CU Boulder as a Research Associate in an evolutionary developmental biology lab. This lab is interested in understanding the evolution of the vertebrates. To do this, we studied developmental gene expression, regulation, and function in three model organisms; lamprey (a jawless vertebrate), amphioxus (a basal chordate), and zebrafish (a jawed vertebrate). By comparing lamprey and amphioxus development with that of zebrafish, and other vertebrates like frog and salamander, we aimed to reconstruct the genetic and developmental changes underlying the earliest events in vertebrate evolution, like the evolution of the head and jaw.

From there I went on to work as a research associate at CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus, where I worked in neurobiology and scoliosis labs. The primary focus of the work performed in the neurobiology lab was to investigate the genetic, molecular, and cellular basis of development and myelination of the central nervous system. In the scoliosis lab we utilized clinical specimens (maybe from you!) to achieve the goal of broadening the scientific community’s knowledge of the complex molecular underpinnings of idiopathic scoliosis. In both labs I used emerging CRISPR/Cas technologies to manipulate the zebrafish (our animal model) genome to study the effects of specific genetic manipulations on myelination and musculoskeletal phenotypes.

Hobbies

In addition to my academic life, I have two college aged children. One is working on his BA at CU Boulder in Neuroscience and the other is a freshman here at Metro majoring in math. I also have 3 cats, a snake and a puppy! I love outdoor activities and am an avid hiker, skier, and runner.