Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C0990, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
BMC Genomics. 2018 Jan 4;19(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4392-0.
Molecular mechanisms underlying coral larval competence, the ability of larvae to respond to settlement cues, determine their dispersal potential and are potential targets of natural selection. Here, we profiled competence, fluorescence and genome-wide gene expression in embryos and larvae of the reef-building coral Acropora millepora daily throughout 12 days post-fertilization.
Gene expression associated with competence was positively correlated with transcriptomic response to the natural settlement cue, confirming that mature coral larvae are "primed" for settlement. Rise of competence through development was accompanied by up-regulation of sensory and signal transduction genes such as ion channels, genes involved in neuropeptide signaling, and G-protein coupled receptor (GPCRs). A drug screen targeting components of GPCR signaling pathways confirmed a role in larval settlement behavior and metamorphosis.
These results gives insight into the molecular complexity underlying these transitions and reveals receptors and pathways that, if altered by changing environments, could affect dispersal capabilities of reef-building corals. In addition, this dataset provides a toolkit for asking broad questions about sensory capacity in multicellular animals and the evolution of development.
幼虫的竞争能力（幼虫对附着信号做出反应的能力）的分子机制决定了它们的扩散潜力，也是自然选择的潜在目标。在这里，我们在受精后 12 天内，每天对造礁珊瑚 Acropora millepora 的胚胎和幼虫的竞争能力、荧光和全基因组基因表达进行了分析。
与竞争能力相关的基因表达与对天然附着信号的转录组反应呈正相关，这证实了成熟珊瑚幼虫已经为附着做好了“准备”。通过发育而产生的竞争能力的提高伴随着感觉和信号转导基因的上调，例如离子通道、参与神经肽信号的基因和 G 蛋白偶联受体 (GPCR)。针对 GPCR 信号通路成分的药物筛选证实了其在幼虫附着行为和变态中的作用。
这些结果深入了解了这些转变背后的分子复杂性，并揭示了受体和途径，如果受到环境变化的影响，可能会影响造礁珊瑚的扩散能力。此外，该数据集为研究多细胞动物的感觉能力和发育进化提供了一个工具包。
