Application of RNA Interference Technology to Acroporid Juvenile Corals

Numerous genes involved in calcification, algal endosymbiosis, and the stress response have been identified corals by large-scale gene expression analysis, but functional analysis of those is lacking. There are few experimental examples manipulation corals, such as knockdown RNA interference (RNAi). The purpose this study to establish an RNAi method for coral juveniles. As a first trial, encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP, endogenous fluorophore expressed corals) thioredoxin (TRX, gene) were selected knockdown. Synthesized double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) corresponding GFP TRX transformed into planula larvae lipofection attempt RNAi. Real-time PCR verify showed that levels tended decrease with each dsRNA treatment (not significant). In addition, exposure experiments following revealed planulae exhibited increased mortality at elevated temperatures. GFP-knockdown decreased fluorescence was observed. However, effect confirmed only initial stages larval metamorphosis polyps, not 1 month-old budding polyps. This can be applied polyps after settlement, provides useful tool modify tolerance emission corals.