Intra-Colonial Functional Differentiation-Related Modulation of the Cellular Membrane in a Pocilloporid Coral Seriatopora caliendrum

Abstract

Scleractinian corals have displayed phenotypic gradients of polyps within a single genotypic colony, and this has profound implications for their biology. The intrinsic polymorphism of membrane lipids and the molecular interactions involved allow cells to dynamically organize their membranes to have physicochemical properties appropriate for their physiological requirements. To gain insight into the accommodation of the cellular membrane during ontogenetic shifts, intra-colony differences in the glycerophosphocholine profiling of a pocilloporid coral, Seriatopora caliendrum, were characterized using a previously validated method. Specifically, several major polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines showed higher levels in the distal tissue of coral branches. In contrast, the corresponding molecules with 1-2-degree less unsaturation and plasmanylcholines were expressed more highly in the proximal tissue. The lipid profiles of these two colonial positions also contrasted sharply with regard to the saturated, monounsaturated, and lyso-glycerophosphocholine ratios. Based on the biochemical and biophysical properties of these lipids, the associated modulation of cellular membrane properties could be related to the physiological requirements, including coral growth and aging, of the functionally differentiated polyps. In this study, the metabolic regulation of membrane lipids involved in the functional differentiation of polyps within a S. caliendrum colony was identified.

Intra-colonial diversity in the scleractinian coral,Acropora millepora: identifying the nutritional gradients underlying physiological integration and compartmentalised functioning

“…The present study examined the biochemical composition along the longitudinal radius of A. millepora colonies, providing a unique account of nutritional resource compartmentalisation stemming from branch position and functional specialisation within a single coral colony. These findings provide new insights into colony-wide zonation of the comprehensive nutritional profile from a length-wise (i.e., colony centre-edge) perspective since, until now, previous studies have been limited to individual coral branches from a height-wise (i.e., branch base-tip) perspective ( Taylor, 1977 ; Fang, Chen & Chen, 1989 ; Gladfelter, Michel & Sanfelici, 1989 ; Oku et al, 2002 ; Tang et al, 2015 ).…”

“…While numerous studies have examined intra-colonial variation in the biochemical composition along a single coral branch (i.e., branch base-tip) ( Taylor, 1977 ; Fang, Chen & Chen, 1989 ; Gladfelter, Michel & Sanfelici, 1989 ; Oku et al, 2002 ; Tang et al, 2015 ), these results provide little insight into nutritional processes within the entire colony. To date, comprehensive analyses expanding these findings to nutritional variation between colony regions (i.e., colony centre-edge) has yet to be conducted.…”

Peer Review #1 of "Intra-colonial diversity in the scleractinian coral, Acropora millepora: identifying the nutritional gradients underlying physiological integration and compartmentalised functioning (v0.1)"

“…colony centre-edge) perspective since, until now, previous studies have been limited to individual coral branches from a height-wise (i.e. branch base-tip) perspective (Taylor, 1977;Fang, Chen & Chen, 1989;Gladfelter, Michel & Sanfelici, 1989;Oku et al, 2002;Tang et al, 2015).…”

“…While numerous studies have examined intra-colonial variation in the biochemical composition along a single coral branch (i.e. branch base-tip) (Taylor, 1977;Fang, Chen & Chen, 1989;Gladfelter, Michel & Sanfelici, 1989;Oku et al, 2002;Tang et al, 2015), these results provide little insight into nutritional processes within the entire colony. To date, comprehensive analyses expanding these findings to nutritional variation between colony regions (i.e.…”

Comparative lipidomic analysis of phospholipids of hydrocorals and corals from tropical and cold-water regions

“…A set of all lipid molecular species present in an organism is defined as lipidome, and the quantitative description of the lipidome is one of the main tasks of lipidomics. Lipidomic analyses started in the early 2000s and have recently been applied to mollusks [42,43], sea anemones [44], hard corals [45], soft corals and their SDs [46,47], but data on lipidomes of marine invertebrates still remain very limited. In addition to common analyses of lipids, the lipidomic approach opens up new opportunities for marine ecological studies [44].…”