The skeletal proteome of the coral Acropora millepora: the evolution of calcification by co-option and domain shuffling.

ABSTRACT: In corals, biocalcification is a major function that may be drastically affected by ocean acidification (OA). Scleractinian corals grow by building up aragonitic exoskeletons that provide support and protection for soft tissues. Although this process has been extensively studied, the molecular basis of biocalcification is poorly understood. Notably lacking is a comprehensive catalog of the skeleton-occluded proteins-the skeletal organic matrix proteins (SOMPs) that are thought to regulate the mineral deposition. Using a combination of proteomics and transcriptomics, we report the first survey of such proteins in the staghorn coral Acropora millepora. The organic matrix (OM) extracted from the coral skeleton was analyzed by mass spectrometry and bioinformatics, enabling the identification o

SUBMITTER: Ramos-Silva P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3748352 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature