Extracellular enzymatic activities of octocorals and scleractinian corals under environmental stress.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular enzymes, released by coral holobionts (coral host, symbiotic dinoflagellates and associated microorganisms) are involved in nutrient cycling and can serve as diagnostic indicators of coral health and reef ecosystem functionality. For example, α-glucosidases (α-Glu), Leucine-aminopeptidases (LAP) and alkaline phosphatases (APA), hydrolyze large molecules into assimilable nutrients containing carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. This study investigated the extracellular activity (EEA) of these three enzymes in octocoral and hexacoral species under different environmental conditions. Results revealed that EEA from mucus-associated microbes was low, while entire coral holobionts exhibited significant activity. Furthermore, under identical environmental conditions and su

SUBMITTER: Lange K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12686502 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature