The distribution and functions of neurons in scleractinian corals remain largely unknown. This study focused on the Arg-Phe amide family of neuropeptides (RFamides), which have been shown to be involved in a variety of biological processes in animals, and performed molecular identification and characterization in the adult scleractinian coral Euphyllia ancora. The deduced amino acid sequence of the identified RFamide preprohormone was predicted to contain 20 potential neuropeptides, including 1 Pro-Gly-Arg-Phe (PGRF) amide and 15 Gln-Gly-Arg-Phe (QGRF) amide peptides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe molecular and cellular characteristics of male germ cell development remain largely unknown in corals. This study focused on the expression pattern of acetylated α-tubulin (Ac-α-Tu), which is involved in male germ cell development in various animals across taxa, to gain a better understanding of male germ cell development in the stony coral Euphyllia ancora. Immunohistochemical analysis of the different stages of male germ cells showed the presence of filamentous Ac-α-Tu in the early to late stages of male germ cells-such as spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids-as well as in the flagella of mature sperm.
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