The end of symbiotic prosperity - The coral story

Abstract

There are two major types of coral species, symbiotic and non-symbiotic coral, which depend on the oxygen and nutrients uptake strategies. The understanding on the evolutionary perspective of survival strategies in both corals is essential for future management of marine ecosystem. For this purpose, we sequenced the genome of a non-symbiotic octocoral, Dendronephthya gigantea, and transcriptomes of its planula and polyps. Comparative genomic analyses of D. gigantea with symbiotic hexacorals, Acropora digitifera and Aiptasia sp., revealed autophagy, apoptosis, and fatty acid metabolism associated domains were significantly expanded in D. gigantea genome. Thus, it could be predicted that non-symbiotic corals have more efficient molecular mechanisms for recycling energy and nutrients during their starvation period than symbiotic corals. Which type of life style would be more benefit in corals during such a climate change period have never experienced before?for future management of marine ecosystem. For this purpose, we sequenced the genome of a non-symbiotic octocoral, Dendronephthya gigantea, and transcriptomes of its planula and polyps. Comparative genomic analyses of D. gigantea with symbiotic hexacorals, Acropora digitifera and Aiptasia sp., revealed autophagy, apoptosis, and fatty acid metabolism associated domains were significantly expanded in D. gigantea genome. Thus, it could be predicted that non-symbiotic corals have more efficient molecular mechanisms for recycling energy and nutrients during their starvation period than symbiotic corals. Which type of life style would be more benefit in corals during such a climate change period have never experienced before?