DMSP biosynthesis by an animal and its role in coral thermal stress response

J-B Raina; D.M. Tapiolas; S. Forêt; A. Lutz; D. Abrego; J. Ceh; F.O. Seneca; P.L. Clode; D.G. Bourne; B.L. Willis; C.A. Motti

doi:10.1038/nature12677

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DMSP biosynthesis by an animal and its role in coral thermal stress response

Journal article

Peer reviewed

DMSP biosynthesis by an animal and its role in coral thermal stress response

J-B Raina, D.M. Tapiolas, S. Forêt, A. Lutz, D. Abrego, J. Ceh, F.O. Seneca, P.L. Clode, D.G. Bourne, B.L. Willis, …

Nature, Vol.502(7473), pp.677-680

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12677

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Abstract

Globally, reef-building corals are the most prolific producers of dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP)1, 2, a central molecule in the marine sulphur cycle and precursor of the climate-active gas dimethylsulphide3, 4. At present, DMSP production by corals is attributed entirely to their algal endosymbiont, Symbiodinium2. Combining chemical, genomic and molecular approaches, we show that coral juveniles produce DMSP in the absence of algal symbionts. DMSP levels increased up to 54% over time in newly settled coral juveniles lacking algal endosymbionts, and further increases, up to 76%, were recorded when juveniles were subjected to thermal stress. We uncovered coral orthologues of two algal genes recently identified in DMSP biosynthesis, strongly indicating that corals possess the enzymatic machinery necessary for DMSP production. Our results overturn the paradigm that photosynthetic organisms are the sole biological source of DMSP, and highlight the double jeopardy represented by worldwide declining coral cover, as the potential to alleviate thermal stress through coral-produced DMSP declines correspondingly.

Details

Title: DMSP biosynthesis by an animal and its role in coral thermal stress response
Authors/Creators: J-B Raina (Author/Creator) - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
D.M. Tapiolas (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
S. Forêt (Author/Creator) - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
A. Lutz (Author/Creator) - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
D. Abrego (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
J. Ceh (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
F.O. Seneca (Author/Creator) - James Cook University
P.L. Clode (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
D.G. Bourne (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
B.L. Willis (Author/Creator) - ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
C.A. Motti (Author/Creator) - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Publication Details: Nature, Vol.502(7473), pp.677-680
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Identifiers: 991005544208207891
Copyright: 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 8 Earth Sciences; 8.124 Environmental Sciences; 8.124.2044 Dimethylsulfoniopropionate
Web Of Science research areas: Microbiology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science