Acropora genome sequencing

[naso tang]

I found this article for any science gearheads. I've been wondering what types of genes this organism has, but apparently we learned this back in 2011. Interesting read for me...

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v476/n7360/full/nature10249.html

 

[naso tang]

Also this one describes the relationship between acropora and it's symbiont. Helps understand the challenges to genome sequencing when there are two sources of dna in the sample. Host and symbiont.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4083563/pdf/fmicb-05-00336.pdf

 

[JaimeAdams]

Thanks for sharing

 

[Anirban]

Thanks for the article, its a nice read. The interesting parts for non scientific people are....

1. Photo protective compounds like mycosporine amino acid (MAA) can be synthesized by the acropora itself and it does not need any symbiont association.
2. Apparently the acropora developed a complex immune system as it has at least 4 toll like receptor genes which are primarily responsible for immune response.The greater complexity of the coral innate immunity network may in part reflect adaptations associated with the symbiotic state and coloniality.
3. The soluble fraction of the organic matrix in scleractinian corals is very rich in acidic amino acids, and has a particularly high aspartic acid composition.
   
4. Interesting point is that acropora lost a enzyme needed for cysteine synthesis from homocysteine and so depend on the symbiont for that amino acid.
5. Authors somehow bypassed the question how increase ocean acidification may impact the calcification related gene cluster in acropora and a study related to that will be nice to see.