Extensive Isolation of Stress Responsive Genes in Soft Coral

Abstract

The coral reefs, including soft coral communities, are known to have critical importance for the marine ecosystem but are in serious decline mainly due to the global warming and human activities(1). The potentially thermal or chemical stress responsive genes from a soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum were identified by construction of standard and stress exposed-paired subtractive cDNA library. The soft coral colonies were exposed to higher temperature (28°C) or exposed benzo[a]pyrene(2) (1 μM) for 24 hr under the controled condition. Three groups, including unexposed standard at 22°C, were subjected to synthesize cDNAs. The cDNA libraries of differentially expressed transcripts were generated by subtracting normal cDNA from the two kinds of stresses treated cDNA populations. During the first stage of the analysis, we have identified about 80 authentic candiates of differentially expressed genes to the thermal stress and benzo[a]pyrene exposure. The genes identified in this study have potential usefulness as biomarkers for monitoring the degree of environmental stresses on a soft coral species.