Changes in host gene expression patterns underpin responses of the coral Stylophora pistillata to nutrient stress
Changes in host gene expression patterns underpin responses of the coral Stylophora pistillata to nutrient stress
The availability and stoichiometry of dissolved nutrients are known to have a significant effect on coral growth, biomineralisation, and stress tolerance. However, previous mechanistic studies have focused primarily on the photosynthetic symbionts. Here we studied the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the coral Stylophora pistillata exposed to four different concentration combinations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) over a period of eight weeks. Despite no significant effects on coral growth or calcification, corals from low P conditions bleached and had significantly fewer symbionts than those from high-phosphate treatments. Low P concentrations induced upregulation of ion transmembrane transporter activity, and downregulation of transcripts involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, protein processing, and protein maturation. Further, all enriched biological processes were related to phosphate metabolism. Our results suggest that S. pistillata controls a variety of molecular pathways to counteract the negative effects of insufficient nutrient supply.
coral, coral reefs, gene expression, nutrient stress, phosphate limitation, transcriptomics
Page, Tessa
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D'Angelo, Cecilia
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Wiedenmann, Jörg
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Foster, Gavin
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1 August 2025
Page, Tessa
d650dc79-64eb-4f14-b16c-86266cdeefc8
D'Angelo, Cecilia
0d35b03b-684d-43aa-a57a-87212ab07ee1
Wiedenmann, Jörg
ad445af2-680f-4927-90b3-589ac9d538f7
Foster, Gavin
fbaa7255-7267-4443-a55e-e2a791213022
Page, Tessa, D'Angelo, Cecilia, Wiedenmann, Jörg and Foster, Gavin
(2025)
Changes in host gene expression patterns underpin responses of the coral Stylophora pistillata to nutrient stress.
Scientific Reports, 15 (1), [28065].
(doi:10.1038/s41598-025-12130-3).
Abstract
The availability and stoichiometry of dissolved nutrients are known to have a significant effect on coral growth, biomineralisation, and stress tolerance. However, previous mechanistic studies have focused primarily on the photosynthetic symbionts. Here we studied the physiological and transcriptomic responses of the coral Stylophora pistillata exposed to four different concentration combinations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) over a period of eight weeks. Despite no significant effects on coral growth or calcification, corals from low P conditions bleached and had significantly fewer symbionts than those from high-phosphate treatments. Low P concentrations induced upregulation of ion transmembrane transporter activity, and downregulation of transcripts involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, protein processing, and protein maturation. Further, all enriched biological processes were related to phosphate metabolism. Our results suggest that S. pistillata controls a variety of molecular pathways to counteract the negative effects of insufficient nutrient supply.
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s41598-025-12130-3
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Accepted/In Press date: 15 July 2025
Published date: 1 August 2025
Keywords:
coral, coral reefs, gene expression, nutrient stress, phosphate limitation, transcriptomics
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Local EPrints ID: 503532
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/503532
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 6ff268a9-d965-4680-a396-e7c13ec19036
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Date deposited: 04 Aug 2025 16:56
Last modified: 05 Sep 2025 02:04
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Tessa Page
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