Differentially expressed gene profiling in soft coral species exposed to seawater temperature and pH changes

Abstract

Coral reefs are the most magnificent and diverse marine ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs have had a crucial role in shaping the ecosystems that have dominated tropical oceans over the past 200 million years. Recently major impacts of climate change including, elevated temperature and marine acidification, might have accelerated the process of destruction on coral reefs worldwide. By investigating changes in coral gene expression triggered by particular environmental stressors. we can characterize coral stress responses at molecular level, which develop powerful diagnostic tools for evaluating coral health in the field. In this research, we studied the physiological aspect, and transcriptional responses of the soft coral (Scleronephthya gracillimum) in Korea. We collected corals from Jeju , Korea. The pH (pH 7.0, pH 7.5) , heat (28 ℃) and pH + heat stress (28 ℃ + pH 7.0, 28 ℃ + pH 7.5, ) exposure for 24 hr induces morphological changes. For the microarray experiment, we exposed corals to various stress. As the results, we found the shared genes in corals responding to various stresses. These genes showed the higher changes in expression by dual stresses (pH and temperature) than single stress like as only pH or only temperature. The results suggested that the isolated gene candidates could be used as molecular biomarkers for the identification of environmental change.e change including, elevated temperature and marine acidification, might have accelerated the process of destruction on coral reefs worldwide. By investigating changes in coral gene expression triggered by particular environmental stressors. we can characterize coral stress responses at molecular level, which develop powerful diagnostic tools for evaluating coral health in the field. In this research, we studied the physiological aspect, and transcriptional responses of the soft coral (Scleronephthya gracillimum) in Korea. We collected corals from Jeju , Korea. The pH (pH 7.0, pH 7.5) , heat (28 ℃) and pH + heat stress (28 ℃ + pH 7.0, 28 ℃ + pH 7.5, ) exposure for 24 hr induces morphological changes. For the microarray experiment, we exposed corals to various stress. As the results, we found the shared genes in corals responding to various stresses. These genes showed the higher changes in expression by dual stresses (pH and temperature) than single stress like as only pH or only temperature. The results suggested that the isolated gene candidates could be used as molecular biomarkers for the identification of environmental change.