Screening by coral green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like chromoproteins supports a role in photoprotection of zooxanthellae
Screening by coral green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like chromoproteins supports a role in photoprotection of zooxanthellae
Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments are responsible for the vivid colouration of many reef-building corals and have been proposed to act as photoprotectants. Their role remains controversial because the functional mechanism has not been elucidated. We provide direct evidence to support a photoprotective role of the non-fluorescent chromoproteins (CPs) that form a biochemically and photophysically distinct group of GFP-like proteins. Based on observations of Acropora nobilis from the Great Barrier Reef, we explored the photoprotective role of CPs by analysing five coral species under controlled conditions. In vitro and in hospite analyses of chlorophyll excitation demonstrate that screening by CPs leads to a reduction in chlorophyll excitation corresponding to the spectral properties of the specific CPs present in the coral tissues. Between 562 and 586 nm, the CPs maximal absorption range, there was an up to 50 % reduction of chlorophyll excitation. The screening was consistent for established and regenerating tissue and amongst symbiont clades A, C and D. Moreover, among two differently pigmented morphs of Acropora valida grown under identical light conditions and hosting subclade type C3 symbionts, high CP expression correlated with reduced photodamage under acute light stress.
green fluorescent protein (gfp)-like proteins, chromoproteins, function, photoprotection, growth, coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis
463-474
Smith, E.G.
594ffefb-a5eb-4aca-b076-b6c6d113e58f
D'Angelo, C.
0d35b03b-684d-43aa-a57a-87212ab07ee1
Salih, A.
20176292-4829-4e28-bac4-b0e7e22ba64a
Wiedenmann, J.
ad445af2-680f-4927-90b3-589ac9d538f7
June 2013
Smith, E.G.
594ffefb-a5eb-4aca-b076-b6c6d113e58f
D'Angelo, C.
0d35b03b-684d-43aa-a57a-87212ab07ee1
Salih, A.
20176292-4829-4e28-bac4-b0e7e22ba64a
Wiedenmann, J.
ad445af2-680f-4927-90b3-589ac9d538f7
Smith, E.G., D'Angelo, C., Salih, A. and Wiedenmann, J.
(2013)
Screening by coral green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like chromoproteins supports a role in photoprotection of zooxanthellae.
Coral Reefs, 32 (2), .
(doi:10.1007/s00338-012-0994-9).
Abstract
Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like pigments are responsible for the vivid colouration of many reef-building corals and have been proposed to act as photoprotectants. Their role remains controversial because the functional mechanism has not been elucidated. We provide direct evidence to support a photoprotective role of the non-fluorescent chromoproteins (CPs) that form a biochemically and photophysically distinct group of GFP-like proteins. Based on observations of Acropora nobilis from the Great Barrier Reef, we explored the photoprotective role of CPs by analysing five coral species under controlled conditions. In vitro and in hospite analyses of chlorophyll excitation demonstrate that screening by CPs leads to a reduction in chlorophyll excitation corresponding to the spectral properties of the specific CPs present in the coral tissues. Between 562 and 586 nm, the CPs maximal absorption range, there was an up to 50 % reduction of chlorophyll excitation. The screening was consistent for established and regenerating tissue and amongst symbiont clades A, C and D. Moreover, among two differently pigmented morphs of Acropora valida grown under identical light conditions and hosting subclade type C3 symbionts, high CP expression correlated with reduced photodamage under acute light stress.
Text
Wiedenmann 2013 Smith et al CP screening Coral Reefs.pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: January 2013
e-pub ahead of print date: January 2013
Published date: June 2013
Additional Information:
RCUK-linked Funding: NE/I012648/1 to JW; studentship to EGS)
Keywords:
green fluorescent protein (gfp)-like proteins, chromoproteins, function, photoprotection, growth, coral-zooxanthellae symbiosis
Organisations:
Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 349897
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/349897
ISSN: 0722-4028
PURE UUID: 7826e5e0-3bd1-4c05-9278-75b993265490
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 13 Mar 2013 11:24
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:28
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
E.G. Smith
Author:
A. Salih
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
