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Fluorescent protein expression in temperature tolerant and susceptible reef-building corals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2021

Exequiel Gabriel S. Dizon
Affiliation:
Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines
Jeric P. Da-Anoy
Affiliation:
Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines
Melissa S. Roth
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, BerkeleyCA, 94720-3102, USA
Cecilia Conaco*
Affiliation:
Marine Science Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines
*
Author for correspondence: Cecilia Conaco, E-mail: cconaco@msi.upd.edu.ph

Abstract

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are reported to play an important role as photoprotectants and antioxidants in corals subjected to stressful conditions. Identifying the various FP genes expressed and FP gene expression patterns under stress in diverse coral species can provide insight into FP function. In this study, we identified 16 putative FP homologues from the transcriptomes of corals with varying susceptibility to elevated temperature, including Acropora digitifera, Favites colemani, Montipora digitata and Seriatopora caliendrum. Each coral expressed a different complement of FP transcripts, which were predicted to have distinct spectral properties. The most diverse and abundant repertoire of FP transcripts, including at least 6 green FPs, were expressed in the temperature-tolerant coral, F. colemani. In comparison, the other corals expressed fewer FP types. Specific FP transcripts exhibited variable expression profiles in coral fragments subjected to 32 ± 1 °C (treatment) or 28 ± 1 °C (control) for up to 72 h, suggesting that distinct FPs may have different roles. Further studies on the expression of the proteins encoded by these FP transcripts, their fluorescence activity, tissue localization, and possible antioxidant properties, are needed to reveal their contribution to thermal stress tolerance in certain species of corals.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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