Han Tingyu, Li Yuanchao, Zhao Hongwei, Chen Junyuan, He Chunpeng, Lu Zuhong
State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defect and Cell Regeneration; MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Commun Biol. 2025 Apr 23;8(1):652. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08089-6.
Coral reef ecosystems face escalating threats from anthropogenic global climate challenges, leading to frequent bleaching events. A key issue in coral transplantation is the inability of fragments to rapidly grow to sizes that can resist environmental pressures. The observation of accelerated growth during the early stages of coral regeneration provides new insights for addressing this challenge. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we study the fast-growing stony coral Acropora muricata. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and high-resolution micro-computed tomography, we identify a critical regeneration phase around 2-4 weeks post-injury. Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals 11 function-specific cell clusters. Pseudotime analysis indicates epidermal cell differentiation into calicoblasts. Bulk RNA-seq results highlight a temporal limitation in coral's rapid regeneration. Through integrated multi-omics analysis, this study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive understanding of coral regeneration, providing insights beyond fundamental knowledge and offering potential protective strategies to promote coral growth.
珊瑚礁生态系统面临着人为全球气候挑战带来的不断升级的威胁，导致频繁的白化事件。珊瑚移植中的一个关键问题是珊瑚碎片无法迅速生长到能够抵御环境压力的大小。对珊瑚再生早期加速生长的观察为应对这一挑战提供了新的见解。为了研究潜在的分子机制，我们研究了快速生长的石珊瑚多孔鹿角珊瑚。通过单细胞RNA测序、批量RNA测序和高分辨率微计算机断层扫描，我们确定了受伤后约2-4周的关键再生阶段。单细胞转录组分析揭示了11个功能特异性细胞簇。伪时间分析表明表皮细胞分化为成杯细胞。批量RNA测序结果突出了珊瑚快速再生中的时间限制。通过综合多组学分析，本研究强调了全面了解珊瑚再生的重要性，不仅提供了基础知识，还提供了促进珊瑚生长的潜在保护策略。
