The calcifying interface in a stony coral primary polyp: An interplay between seawater and an extracellular calcifying space.

ABSTRACT: Stony coral exoskeletons build the foundation for the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on Earth, coral reefs, which face major threats due to many anthropogenic-related stressors. Therefore, understanding coral biomineralization mechanisms is crucial for coral reef management in the coming decades and for using coral skeletons in geochemical studies. This study combines in-vivo imaging with cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-elemental mapping to gain novel insights into the biological microenvironment and the ion pathways that facilitate biomineralization in primary polyps of the stony coral Stylophora pistillata. We document increased tissue permeability in the primary polyp and a highly dispersed cell packing in the tissue directly responsible for producing the coral skeleton.

SUBMITTER: Mor Khalifa G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7611985 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature