Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/srep00160
Title (Primary) Defining the tipping point. A complex cellular life/death balance in corals in response to stress
Author Ainsworth, T.; Wasmund, K.; Ukani, L.; Seneca, F.; Yellowlees, D.; Leggat, W.
Source Titel Scientific Reports
Year 2011
Department ISOBIO
Volume 1
Page From art. 160
Language englisch
Abstract

Apoptotic cell death has been implicated in coral bleaching but the molecules involved and the mechanisms by which apoptosis is regulated are only now being identified. In contrast the mechanisms underlying apoptosis in higher animals are relatively well understood. To better understand the response of corals to thermal stress, the expression of coral homologs of six key regulators of apoptosis was studied in Acropora aspera under conditions simulating those of a mass bleaching event. Significant changes in expression were detected between the daily minimum and maximum temperatures. Maximum daily temperatures from as low as 3°C below the bleaching threshold resulted in significant changes in both pro- and anti-apoptotic gene expression. The results suggest that the control of apoptosis is highly complex in this eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiosis and that apoptotic cell death cascades potentially play key roles tipping the cellular life/death balance during environmental stress prior to the onset of coral bleaching.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=11989
Ainsworth, T., Wasmund, K., Ukani, L., Seneca, F., Yellowlees, D., Leggat, W. (2011):
Defining the tipping point. A complex cellular life/death balance in corals in response to stress
Sci. Rep. 1 , art. 160 10.1038/srep00160