An aposymbiotic primary coral polyp counteracts acidification by active pH regulation.

ABSTRACT: Corals build their skeletons using extracellular calcifying fluid located in the tissue-skeleton interface. However, the mechanism by which corals control the transport of calcium and other ions from seawater and the mechanism of constant alkalization of calcifying fluid are largely unknown. To address these questions, we performed direct pH imaging at calcification sites (subcalicoblastic medium, SCM) to visualize active pH upregulation in live aposymbiotic primary coral polyps treated with HCl-acidified seawater. Active alkalization was observed in all individuals using vital staining method while the movement of HPTS and Alexa Fluor to SCM suggests that certain ions such as H⁺ could diffuse via a paracellular pathway to SCM. Among them, we discovered acid-induced oscillations

SUBMITTER: Ohno Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5241827 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature