Green fluorescent protein-like pigments optimize the internal light environment in symbiotic reef building corals
Data files
Oct 18, 2021 version files 3.99 MB
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10h_spectral.csv
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10h_spectralcalib1.csv
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absolute_calibration_MSc15.xlsx
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after24h_b.csv
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after24h.csv
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black_integrals.csv
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black.csv
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control1_b.csv
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control1_integrals.csv
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control1.csv
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control2_integrals.csv
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control2.csv
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control3_b.csv
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control3_integrals.csv
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control3.csv
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converted_integrals.csv
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K.csv
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mg_after24h_1.csv
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mg_after24h_2_b.csv
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mg_after24h_3.csv
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mg_before1_black.csv
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mg_before1.csv
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mg2_10h_b.csv
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mg2_10h.csv
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mg2_before_b.csv
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mg2_before.csv
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mg2_control_b.csv
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mg2_control.csv
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partial1_integrals.csv
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partial2_integrals.csv
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readme.rtf
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spot2final_conv_b.csv
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spot2final_conv.csv
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surface_E0_W.csv
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surface.csv
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Jul 11, 2022 version files 4.04 MB
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10h_spectral.csv
577.01 KB
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10h_spectralcalib1.csv
201.53 KB
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absolute_calibration_MSc15.xlsx
196.70 KB
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after24h_b.csv
59.51 KB
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after24h.csv
541.95 KB
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black_integrals.csv
311 B
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black.csv
13.57 KB
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control1_b.csv
51.14 KB
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control1_integrals.csv
1.38 KB
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control1.csv
364.22 KB
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control2_integrals.csv
1.08 KB
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control2.csv
276.59 KB
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control3_b.csv
51.14 KB
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control3_integrals.csv
1.09 KB
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control3.csv
276.54 KB
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converted_integrals.csv
1.83 KB
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K.csv
20.38 KB
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mg_after24h_1.csv
89.10 KB
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mg_after24h_2_b.csv
15.76 KB
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mg_after24h_3.csv
177 KB
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mg_before1_black.csv
30.66 KB
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mg_before1.csv
148.30 KB
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mg2_10h_b.csv
26.60 KB
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mg2_10h.csv
141.10 KB
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mg2_before_b.csv
26.61 KB
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mg2_before.csv
140.60 KB
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mg2_control_b.csv
13.74 KB
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mg2_control.csv
140.21 KB
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partial1_integrals.csv
1.08 KB
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partial2_integrals.csv
2.25 KB
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README.rtf
42.95 KB
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spot2final_conv_b.csv
51.14 KB
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spot2final_conv.csv
276.60 KB
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surface_E0_W.csv
18.81 KB
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surface.csv
56.63 KB
Abstract
Pigments homologous to the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) have been proposed to fine-tune the internal light microclimate of corals, facilitating photoacclimation of photosynthetic coral symbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) to life in different reef habitats and environmental conditions. However, direct measurements of the in vivo light conditions inside the coral tissue supporting this conclusion are lacking. Here, we quantified the intra-tissue spectral light environment of corals expressing GFP-like proteins from widely different light regimes. We focus on (1) photoconvertible red fluorescent proteins (pcRFPs), thought to enhance photosynthesis in mesophotic habitats via wavelength conversion, and (2) chromoproteins (CPs), which provide photoprotection to the symbionts in shallow water via light absorption. Optical microsensor measurements indicated that both pigment groups strongly alter the coral tissue light environment. Estimates derived from light spectra measured in pcRFP-containing corals showed that fluorescence emission can contribute to >50% of orange-red light available to the photosynthetic symbionts at mesophotic depths. We further show that upregulation of pink CPs in shallow-water corals during bleaching leads to a reduction of orange light by 10-20% compared to low-CP tissue. Thus, screening by CPs has an important role in mitigating the light-enhancing effect of coral tissue scattering during bleaching. Our results provide the first experimental quantification of the importance of GFP-like proteins in fine-tuning the light microclimate of corals during photoacclimation.