Genetic changes involving the coral gastrovascular system support the transition between colonies and bailed-out polyps: evidence from a Pocillopora acuta transcriptome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A coral colony is composed of physiologically integrated polyps. In stony corals, coloniality adopts a wide diversity of forms and involves complex ontogenetic dynamics. However, molecular mechanisms underlying coloniality have been little studied. To understand the genetic basis of coloniality and its contribution to coral ecology, we induced polyp bail-out in a colonial coral, Pocillopora acuta, and compared transcription profiles of bailed-out polyps and polyps in normal colonies, and their responses to heat shock and hyposalinity.

Results

Consistent with morphological formation of a gastrovascular system and its neural transmission and molecular transport functions, we found genetic activation of neurogenesis and development of tube-like structures in normal c

SUBMITTER: Chuang PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8466926 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature