DOCSLIB.ORG

Pax Gene Diversity in the Basal Cnidarian Acropora Millepora (Cnidaria, Anthozoa): Implications for the Evolution of the Pax Gene Family

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pax Gene Diversity in the Basal Cnidarian Acropora Millepora (Cnidaria, Anthozoa): Implications for the Evolution of the Pax Gene Family Pax gene diversity in the basal cnidarian Acropora millepora (Cnidaria, Anthozoa): Implications for the evolution of the Pax gene family David J. Miller*†, David C. Hayward‡, John S. Reece-Hoyes*‡, Ingo Scholten*, Julian Catmull*‡, Walter J. Gehring§, Patrick Callaerts§¶, Jill E. Larsen*, and Eldon E. Ball‡ *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; ‡Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, P.O. Box 475, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia; §Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; and ¶Department of Biology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5513 Contributed by Walter J. Gehring, January 31, 2000 Pax genes encode a family of transcription factors, many of which Many Pax proteins contain motifs in addition to the PD; most play key roles in animal embryonic development but whose evo- of the arthropod and chordate Pax genes fall into four classes on lutionary relationships and ancestral functions are unclear. To the basis of comparisons of domain structure and sequences address these issues, we are characterizing the Pax gene comple- (9–12). The Pax-6 class, which includes Drosophila eyeless, is the ment of the coral Acropora millepora, an anthozoan cnidarian. As only unequivocal case of conservation of function (reviewed in the simplest animals at the tissue level of organization, cnidarians ref. 13). The Pax-2͞5͞8 class is viewed as that most closely occupy a key position in animal evolution, and the Anthozoa are related to the Pax-6 group—the ‘‘supergroup’’ comprising Pax- the basal class within this diverse phylum. We have identified four 6͞2͞5͞8 is clearly distinct from the other supergroup, which Pax genes in Acropora: two (Pax-Aam and Pax-Bam) are orthologs comprises the Pax-3͞7 and Pax-1͞9 clades (11). In addition to of genes identified in other cnidarians; the others (Pax-Cam and these four classes that include orthologs from a wide range of Pax-Dam) are unique to Acropora. Pax-Aam may be orthologous animals, many ‘‘orphan’’ Pax genes are known (see, for example, with Drosophila Pox neuro, and Pax-Bam clearly belongs to the Pax-2͞5͞8 class. The Pax-Bam Paired domain binds specifically and ref. 14), with more restricted distributions. preferentially to Pax-2͞5͞8 binding sites. The recently identified The approach that we are taking to understanding the evo- Acropora gene Pax-Dam belongs to the Pax-3͞7 class. Clearly, lution of these genes is to characterize the Pax gene complement substantial diversification of the Pax family occurred before the of the staghorn coral, Acropora millepora, an anthozoan. The Cnidaria͞higher Metazoa split. The fourth Acropora Pax gene, Anthozoa are the basal class within the Cnidaria (15–17)—the Pax-Cam, may correspond to the ancestral vertebrate Pax gene and simplest animals at the tissue level of organization—and are thus most closely resembles Pax-6. The expression pattern of Pax-Cam, likely to reflect ancestral character states more closely than in putative neurons, is consistent with an ancestral role of the Pax members of the other classes. The rationale behind this assump- EVOLUTION family in neural differentiation and patterning. We have deter- tion is that, in a representative basal animal, genes should be mined the genomic structure of each Acropora Pax gene and show performing more restricted functions, and hence, ancestral roles that some splice sites are shared both between the coral genes and may be more clearly seen. We previously identified two Pax between these and Pax genes in triploblastic metazoans. Together, genes in Acropora (18), one of which has orthologs in the these data support the monophyly of the Pax family and indicate hydrozoans Hydra littoralis (19) and Hydra magnipapillata (20) as ancient origins of several introns. well as the scyphozoan Chrysaora quinquecirrha (19). A third cnidarian Pax gene is known from the hydrozoan Podocoryne he Pax genes encode a complex family of transcription carnea; EMBL accession no. AJ249563) as well as C. quinque- SPECIAL FEATURE Tfactors with multiple DNA-binding domains and diverse cirrha (19), H. littoralis, and H. magnipapillata (19, 20). Although functions, and for these reasons, many aspects of their evolution these genes have provided novel perspectives on Pax gene remain speculative. Pax genes are defined by the presence of the evolution (18–20), some speculation is involved in relating the paired box, first identified in the Drosophila pair-rule gene paired known cnidarian genes to the Pax gene classes identified in (1), and encode a large (128-aa) DNA-binding domain (the higher animals. Additionally, nothing is known about the roles of Paired domain or PD). In addition, a number of Pax genes also these genes in lower Metazoa. encode a complete or partial homeodomain (HD). Pax HDs are Herein, we describe two genes from Acropora, bringing the distinguished by the presence of a serine residue at position 50 number of Pax genes identified in this animal to four. One of but are clearly related to those encoded by genes such as the Arx these genes is likely to be orthologous to the Pax-B gene known and Otx families (2). Pax and related HDs preferentially bind as from several other cnidarians and a single sponge species, and it dimers at palindromic targets consisting of two TAAT half sites can be viewed as corresponding to an ancestral Pax-2͞5͞8 gene; (3). The PD consists of two distinct helix–turn–helix motifs (4). the second falls unambiguously into the Pax-3͞7 class and has no In the case of Paired (prd), only the N-terminal PAI subdomain orthologs among lower animals. The identification of a Pax-3͞7 makes DNA contacts (5), but in some other Pax proteins, the gene in Acropora indicates that substantial diversification of the C-terminal RED subdomain makes contacts and modulates Pax family predates the Cnidaria͞higher Metazoa split, and the binding (6, 7). Additional complications in understanding the binding of these proteins are that a distinct set of targets seems presence of common intron positions is consistent with the to exist for the RED subdomain (8), that complex sites bound by monophyly of the Pax family. We have elsewhere argued that Pax both PD and HDs have been identified (4), and that Pax HDs can heterodimerize with a range of related proteins (3). Nine Pax genes are known in mammals, and eight (nine if eyegone is Abbreviations: PD, Paired domain; HD, homeodomain. included) are known in Drosophila; alternative splicing and Data deposition: The sequences reported in this paper have been deposited in the GenBank multiple roles during development complicate the identification database (accession nos. AF053458, AF241310, AF053459, and AF241311). of ancestral functions. †To whom reprint requests should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]. PNAS ͉ April 25, 2000 ͉ vol. 97 ͉ no. 9 ͉ 4475–4480 Downloaded by guest on September 30, 2021 Fig. 1. Alignments of Acropora PD (A) and HD (B) sequences. Shading (generated with BOXSHADE 3.21) indicates identity of at least two (HD) or three (PD) sequences. The inverted triangles indicate two intron positions: that in the first codon of the PD is present in Pax-Aam, Pax-Bam, and Pax-Dam and that in the HD is present in Pax-Bam, Pax-Cam, and Pax-Dam. diversification accompanied and facilitated the elaboration of were then analyzed on 6% nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels the nervous system (2, 18, 21). Consistent with this argument, we containing 0.5 ϫ TBE (90 mM Tris͞64.6 mM boric acid͞2.5 show that Pax-Cam is expressed in presumed neurons. mM EDTA, pH 8.3). Materials and Methods Whole-Mount in Situ Hybridization. A. millepora embryos were Isolation of cDNA Clones. The construction of the cDNA library is fixed at intervals spaced appropriately such that all major described elsewhere (22). Details of the PCR primers, amplifi- morphological stages were represented. Fixation was for 10–20 cation conditions, and methods used for screening cDNA librar- min in 3.7% (vol͞vol) formaldehyde in Millipore-filtered sea- ies have been described (18). water buffered to pH 8.0 with Hepes buffer. Embryos were then washed repeatedly in Millipore-filtered seawater, dehydrated Genomic DNA and Genomic Clones. High molecular weight genomic through a graded methanol series, and then stored in absolute DNA was isolated from A. millepora egg-sperm bundles as methanol at Ϫ20°C until needed. The embryos contain large described (23). Size-fractionated genomic DNA that had previ- amounts of lipid; thus, a complex delipification procedure must ously been partially digested with MboI was used for the con- ␭ be carried out, which will be described elsewhere (E.E.B., struction of a genomic library in GEM12 (Promega) by using unpublished work). The hybridization solution, hybridization the manufacturer’s recommended methods. Plaques were procedure, and in situ probe production have been described by screened at moderate stringency by using the homologous cDNA Kucharski et al. (24), except that hybridization was at 55°C. clones as probes. Genomic clones were subjected to direct DNA Specimens were cleared through a graded glycerol series and sequencing with the Applied Biosystems BigDye terminator mounted in 90% (vol͞vol) glycerol. Photographs were taken on chemistry, and sequences were determined on ABI310 Genetic a Zeiss Axioskop with Kodak Ektachrome 64 tungsten film with Analyzers. the resulting images converted to digital form by scanning. Other images were captured directly with a Spot digital camera. Electrophoretic Mobility-Shift Assay. A PCR product containing a Digitized images were processed with ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. BamHI site upstream of the complete Pax-Bam paired box followed by a KpnI site and a (TAG) stop codon was generated Results from the cDNA. This product was cloned into the BamHI and Cloning of Acropora Pax Genes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Taxonomic Checklist of CITES Listed Coral Species Part II
    CoP16 Doc. 43.1 (Rev. 1) Annex 5.2 (English only / Únicamente en inglés / Seulement en anglais) Taxonomic Checklist of CITES listed Coral Species Part II CORAL SPECIES AND SYNONYMS CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED IN THE UNEP‐WCMC DATABASE 1. Scleractinia families Family Name Accepted Name Species Author Nomenclature Reference Synonyms ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrolhosensis Veron, 1985 Veron (2000) Madrepora crassa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860; ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrotanoides (Lamarck, 1816) Veron (2000) Madrepora abrotanoides Lamarck, 1816; Acropora mangarevensis Vaughan, 1906 ACROPORIDAE Acropora aculeus (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora aculeus Dana, 1846 Madrepora acuminata Verrill, 1864; Madrepora diffusa ACROPORIDAE Acropora acuminata (Verrill, 1864) Veron (2000) Verrill, 1864; Acropora diffusa (Verrill, 1864); Madrepora nigra Brook, 1892 ACROPORIDAE Acropora akajimensis Veron, 1990 Veron (2000) Madrepora coronata Brook, 1892; Madrepora ACROPORIDAE Acropora anthocercis (Brook, 1893) Veron (2000) anthocercis Brook, 1893 ACROPORIDAE Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora aspera Dana, 1846; Acropora cribripora (Dana, 1846); Madrepora cribripora Dana, 1846; Acropora manni (Quelch, 1886); Madrepora manni ACROPORIDAE Acropora aspera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Quelch, 1886; Acropora hebes (Dana, 1846); Madrepora hebes Dana, 1846; Acropora yaeyamaensis Eguchi & Shirai, 1977 ACROPORIDAE Acropora austera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora austera Dana, 1846 ACROPORIDAE Acropora awi Wallace & Wolstenholme, 1998 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora azurea Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora batunai Wallace, 1997 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bifurcata Nemenzo, 1971 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora branchi Riegl, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora brueggemanni Brook, 1891; Isopora ACROPORIDAE Acropora brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) Veron (2000) brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bushyensis Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) Acropora fasciculare Latypov, 1992 ACROPORIDAE Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985 Veron (2000) CoP16 Doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Exposure to Elevated Sea-Surface Temperatures Below the Bleaching Threshold Impairs Coral Recovery and Regeneration Following Injury
    A peer-reviewed version of this preprint was published in PeerJ on 18 August 2017. View the peer-reviewed version (peerj.com/articles/3719), which is the preferred citable publication unless you specifically need to cite this preprint. Bonesso JL, Leggat W, Ainsworth TD. 2017. Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury. PeerJ 5:e3719 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3719 Exposure to elevated sea-surface temperatures below the bleaching threshold impairs coral recovery and regeneration following injury Joshua Louis Bonesso Corresp., 1 , William Leggat 1, 2 , Tracy Danielle Ainsworth 2 1 College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia 2 Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia Corresponding Author: Joshua Louis Bonesso Email address: [email protected] Elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are linked to an increase in the frequency and severity of bleaching events due to temperatures exceeding corals’ upper thermal limits. The temperatures at which a breakdown of the coral-Symbiodinium endosymbiosis (coral bleaching) occurs are referred to as the upper thermal limits for the coral species. This breakdown of the endosymbiosis results in a reduction of corals’ nutritional uptake, growth, and tissue integrity. Periods of elevated sea surface temperature, thermal stress and coral bleaching are also linked to increased disease susceptibility and an increased frequency of storms which cause injury and physical damage to corals. Herein we aimed to determine the capacity of corals to regenerate and recover from injuries (removal of apical tips) sustained during periods of elevated sea surface temperatures which result in coral stress responses, but which do not result in coral bleaching (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Intra-Colonial Diversity in the Scleractinian Coral
    Intra-colonial diversity in the scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora: identifying the nutritional gradients underlying physiological integration and compartmentalised functioning Jessica A. Conlan1, Craig A. Humphrey2, Andrea Severati2 and David S. Francis1 1 School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia 2 The National Sea Simulator, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia ABSTRACT Scleractinian corals are colonial organisms comprising multiple physiologically integrated polyps and branches. Colonialism in corals is highly beneficial, and allows a single colony to undergo several life processes at once through physiological integra- tion and compartmentalised functioning. Elucidating differences in the biochemical composition of intra-colonial branch positions will provide valuable insight into the nutritional reserves underlying different regions in individual coral colonies. This will also ascertain prudent harvesting strategies of wild donor-colonies to generate coral stock with high survival and vigour prospects for reef-rehabilitation efforts and captive husbandry. This study examined the effects of colony branch position on the nutritional profile of two different colony sizes of the common scleractinian, Acropora millepora. For smaller colonies, branches were sampled at three locations: the colony centre (S-centre), 50% of the longitudinal radius length (LRL) (S-50), and the colony edge (S-edge). For larger colonies, four locations were sampled: the colony centre (L-centre), 33.3% of the LRL (L-33), 66.6% of the LRL (L-66), and the edge (L-edge). Results Submitted 21 September 2017 demonstrate significant branch position effects, with the edge regions containing higher Accepted 16 December 2017 protein, likely due to increased tissue synthesis and calcification.
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Reef Algae
    Coral Reef Algae Peggy Fong and Valerie J. Paul Abstract Benthic macroalgae, or “seaweeds,” are key mem- 1 Importance of Coral Reef Algae bers of coral reef communities that provide vital ecological functions such as stabilization of reef structure, production Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive eco- of tropical sands, nutrient retention and recycling, primary systems on the planet, forming heterogeneous habitats that production, and trophic support. Macroalgae of an astonish- serve as important sources of primary production within ing range of diversity, abundance, and morphological form provide these equally diverse ecological functions. Marine tropical marine environments (Odum and Odum 1955; macroalgae are a functional rather than phylogenetic group Connell 1978). Coral reefs are located along the coastlines of comprised of members from two Kingdoms and at least over 100 countries and provide a variety of ecosystem goods four major Phyla. Structurally, coral reef macroalgae range and services. Reefs serve as a major food source for many from simple chains of prokaryotic cells to upright vine-like developing nations, provide barriers to high wave action that rockweeds with complex internal structures analogous to buffer coastlines and beaches from erosion, and supply an vascular plants. There is abundant evidence that the his- important revenue base for local economies through fishing torical state of coral reef algal communities was dominance and recreational activities (Odgen 1997). by encrusting and turf-forming macroalgae, yet over the Benthic algae are key members of coral reef communities last few decades upright and more fleshy macroalgae have (Fig. 1) that provide vital ecological functions such as stabili- proliferated across all areas and zones of reefs with increas- zation of reef structure, production of tropical sands, nutrient ing frequency and abundance.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Identification of Symbiotic Dinoflagellates in Pacific Corals in the Genus Pocillopora Hélène Magalon, Jean-François Flot, Emmanuelle Baudry
    Molecular identification of symbiotic dinoflagellates in Pacific corals in the genus Pocillopora Hélène Magalon, Jean-François Flot, Emmanuelle Baudry To cite this version: Hélène Magalon, Jean-François Flot, Emmanuelle Baudry. Molecular identification of symbiotic di- noflagellates in Pacific corals in the genus Pocillopora. Coral Reefs, Springer Verlag, 2007, 26(3), pp.551-558. hal-00941744 HAL Id: hal-00941744 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00941744 Submitted on 6 May 2016 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Molecular identiWcation of symbiotic dinoXagellates in PaciWc corals in the genus Pocillopora H. Magalon · J.-F. Flot · E. Baudry Abstract This study focused on the association between Introduction corals of the genus Pocillopora, a major constituent of PaciWc reefs, and their zooxanthellae. Samples of Most tropical corals live in symbiosis with photosynthetic P. meandrina, P. verrucosa, P. damicornis, P. eydouxi, algae, the zooxanthellae (reviewed in Trench 1993). Most P. ligulata and P. molokensis were collected from French zooxanthellae belong to the genus Symbiodinium and 11 Polynesia, Tonga, Okinawa and Hawaii. Symbiodinium species have now been deWned based on morphological, diversity was explored by looking at the 28S and ITS1 physiological and molecular criteria (reviewed in Baker regions of the ribosomal DNA.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Corals Supplemental Information Report
    Supplemental Information Report on Status Review Report And Draft Management Report For 82 Coral Candidate Species November 2012 Southeast and Pacific Islands Regional Offices National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS RECEIVED ...................................................................................................... 3 SRR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2. General Background on Corals and Coral Reefs .................................................................................... 4 2.1 Taxonomy & Distribution .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Population Genetics of the Coral Acropora Millepora: Towards a Genomic Predictor of Bleaching
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/867754; this version posted December 6, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Population genetics of the coral Acropora millepora: Towards a genomic predictor of bleaching Zachary L. Fuller∗1, Veronique J.L. Mocellin2, Luke Morris2, Neal Cantin2, Jihanne Shepherd1, Luke Sarre1, Julie Peng3, Yi Liao4,5, Joseph Pickrell6, Peter Andolfatto1, Mikhail Matzy4, Line K. Bayy2, and Molly Przeworskiy1,2,3 1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University 2Australia Institute of Marine Science 3Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University 4Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin 5Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine 6Gencove, Inc. New York 7Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University 8Program for Mathematical Genomics, Columbia University 6 December 2019 Abstract Although reef-building corals are rapidly declining worldwide, responses to bleaching vary both within and among species. Because these inter-individual differences are partly her- itable, they should in principle be predictable from genomic data. Towards that goal, we generated a chromosome-scale genome assembly for the coral Acropora millepora. We then obtained whole genome sequences for 237 phenotyped samples collected at 12 reefs distributed along the Great Barrier Reef, among which we inferred very little population structure. Scanning the genome for evidence of local adaptation, we detected signatures of long-term balancing selection in the heat-shock co-chaperone sacsin. We further used 213 of the samples to conduct a genome-wide association study of visual bleaching score, in- corporating the polygenic score derived from it into a predictive model for bleaching in the wild.
    [Show full text]
  • Cnidarian Immunity and the Repertoire of Defense Mechanisms in Anthozoans
    biology Review Cnidarian Immunity and the Repertoire of Defense Mechanisms in Anthozoans Maria Giovanna Parisi 1,* , Daniela Parrinello 1, Loredana Stabili 2 and Matteo Cammarata 1,* 1 Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] 2 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (M.G.P.); [email protected] (M.C.) Received: 10 August 2020; Accepted: 4 September 2020; Published: 11 September 2020 Abstract: Anthozoa is the most specious class of the phylum Cnidaria that is phylogenetically basal within the Metazoa. It is an interesting group for studying the evolution of mutualisms and immunity, for despite their morphological simplicity, Anthozoans are unexpectedly immunologically complex, with large genomes and gene families similar to those of the Bilateria. Evidence indicates that the Anthozoan innate immune system is not only involved in the disruption of harmful microorganisms, but is also crucial in structuring tissue-associated microbial communities that are essential components of the cnidarian holobiont and useful to the animal’s health for several functions including metabolism, immune defense, development, and behavior. Here, we report on the current state of the art of Anthozoan immunity. Like other invertebrates, Anthozoans possess immune mechanisms based on self/non-self-recognition. Although lacking adaptive immunity, they use a diverse repertoire of immune receptor signaling pathways (PRRs) to recognize a broad array of conserved microorganism-associated molecular patterns (MAMP). The intracellular signaling cascades lead to gene transcription up to endpoints of release of molecules that kill the pathogens, defend the self by maintaining homeostasis, and modulate the wound repair process.
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I
    Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I. The Complex Group 台灣石珊瑚誌 I. 複雜類群 Chang-feng Dai and Sharon Horng Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University Published by National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, Taiwan Table of Contents Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan ................................................................................................1 General Introduction ........................................................................................................1 Historical Review .............................................................................................................1 Basics for Coral Taxonomy ..............................................................................................4 Taxonomic Framework and Phylogeny ........................................................................... 9 Family Acroporidae ............................................................................................................ 15 Montipora ...................................................................................................................... 17 Acropora ........................................................................................................................ 47 Anacropora .................................................................................................................... 95 Isopora ...........................................................................................................................96 Astreopora ......................................................................................................................99
    [Show full text]
  • The Prokaryotic Microbiome of Acropora Digitifera Is Stable Under Short-Term Artificial Light Pollution
    microorganisms Article The Prokaryotic Microbiome of Acropora digitifera is Stable under Short-Term Artificial Light Pollution Jake Ivan P. Baquiran 1 , Michael Angelou L. Nada 1 , Celine Luisa D. Campos 1, Sherry Lyn G. Sayco 1 , Patrick C. Cabaitan 1 , Yaeli Rosenberg 2 , Inbal Ayalon 2,3,4, Oren Levy 2 and Cecilia Conaco 1,* 1 Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines; [email protected] (J.I.P.B.); [email protected] (M.A.L.N.); [email protected] (C.L.D.C.); [email protected] (S.L.G.S.); [email protected] (P.C.C.) 2 Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; [email protected] (Y.R.); [email protected] (I.A.); [email protected] (O.L.) 3 Israel The H. Steinitz Marine Biology Laboratory, The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat, P.O. Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel 4 Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 39040, Israel * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 29 July 2020; Accepted: 9 October 2020; Published: 12 October 2020 Abstract: Corals harbor a great diversity of symbiotic microorganisms that play pivotal roles in host nutrition, reproduction, and development. Changes in the ocean environment, such as increasing exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN), may alter these relationships and result in a decline in coral health. In this study, we examined the microbiome associated with gravid specimens of the reef-building coral Acropora digitifera.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation of Reef Corals in the South China Sea Based on Species and Evolutionary Diversity
    Biodivers Conserv DOI 10.1007/s10531-016-1052-7 ORIGINAL PAPER Conservation of reef corals in the South China Sea based on species and evolutionary diversity 1 2 3 Danwei Huang • Bert W. Hoeksema • Yang Amri Affendi • 4 5,6 7,8 Put O. Ang • Chaolun A. Chen • Hui Huang • 9 10 David J. W. Lane • Wilfredo Y. Licuanan • 11 12 13 Ouk Vibol • Si Tuan Vo • Thamasak Yeemin • Loke Ming Chou1 Received: 7 August 2015 / Revised: 18 January 2016 / Accepted: 21 January 2016 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016 Abstract The South China Sea in the Central Indo-Pacific is a large semi-enclosed marine region that supports an extraordinary diversity of coral reef organisms (including stony corals), which varies spatially across the region. While one-third of the world’s reef corals are known to face heightened extinction risk from global climate and local impacts, prospects for the coral fauna in the South China Sea region amidst these threats remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyse coral species richness, rarity, and phylogenetic Communicated by Dirk Sven Schmeller. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1052-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. & Danwei Huang [email protected] 1 Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore 2 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands 3 Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of
    [Show full text]
  • Coral Development: from Classical Embryology to Molecular Control
    Int. J. Dev. Biol. 46: 671-678 (2002) Coral development: from classical embryology to molecular control ELDON E. BALL1,*, DAVID C. HAYWARD1, JOHN S. REECE-HOYES1,2, NIKKI R. HISLOP1,2, GABRIELLE SAMUEL3, ROBERT SAINT3, PETER L. HARRISON4 and DAVID J. MILLER2 1Molecular Genetics and Evolution, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 3Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development, University of Adelaide, South Australia and 4School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia ABSTRACT The phylum Cnidaria is the closest outgroup to the triploblastic metazoans and as such offers unique insights into evolutionary questions at several levels. In the post-genomic era, a knowledge of the gene complement of representative cnidarians will be important for understand- ing the relationship between the expansion of gene families and the evolution of morphological complexity among more highly evolved metazoans. Studies of cnidarian development and its molecular control will provide information about the origins of the major bilaterian body axes, the origin of the third tissue layer, the mesoderm, and the evolution of nervous system patterning. We are studying the cnidarian Acropora millepora, a reef building scleractinian coral, and a member of the basal cnidarian class, the Anthozoa. We review our work on descriptive embryology and studies of selected transcription factor gene families, where our knowledge from Acropora is particularly advanced relative to other cnidarians. We also describe a recent preliminary whole genome initiative, a coral EST database. KEY WORDS: Acropora, Pax, nuclear receptor, Hox, EST Introduction (Martin et al., 1997).
    [Show full text]