Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2013, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 43-50.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2013.04.007cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2013.04.007

• Marine Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research progress on functional genes involved in coral bleaching

HUANG Hui1, 2, XU Chang-you1, 2, 3, YUAN Tao1   

  1. 1. Key Lab of Marine Bio-resourses Sustainable Utilization, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; 2. National Experiment Station of Tropical Marine Biology, Sanya 572000, China; 3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2011-10-21 Revised:2012-05-07 Online:2013-10-20 Published:2013-10-30

Abstract: Coral reef bleaching appears frequently nowadays, and even leads to degradation of coral reefs. Thermal, light and environmental toxicant stress are the main causes of coral bleaching. A proposed model of coral bleaching suggests that some functional genes are involved in bleaching process. Micro-array analysis can detect functional genes that are crucial in bleaching. This article summarized the progress in the related area, and focused on introducing important function genes that are related to bleaching. These genes include temperature-related gene family, light radiation-related gene family, cellular defense gene family, Ca2+ regulated gene family, and other important genes. The research on coral bleaching in China is behindhand the world, and research using gene expression markers will help to expand basic theory of coral bleaching.

Key words: coral reefs, bleaching, stress response, gene expression, micro-array

CLC Number: 

  • Q178.53