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Effects of diterpenes derived from the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis on the eggs, sperm and embryos of the scleractinian corals Montipora digitata and Acropora tenuis

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Abstract

Sinularia flexibilis Quoy and Gaimard, 1833 is a dominant soft coral on many Indo-Pacific coral reefs, and has been found to release toxic compounds (diterpenes), which cause tissue necrosis and death in nearby scleractinian corals. This study investigates how S. flexibilis-derived diterpenes inhibit the development of Acropora tenuis Dana, 1846 and Montipora digitata Dana, 1846 eggs and larvae in vitro. Collection and experimental sites at Magnetic (146°49'E; 19°8'S) and Orpheus (146°28'E; 18°32'S) Islands, Queensland, Australia, were utilized during the spawning seasons of 1989–1992. Freshly spawned coral eggs were placed in solutions of three different terpenes, flexibilide, dihydroflexibilide and sinulariolide, at 5 and 10 ppm, before, during, and after fertilisation. The majority of eggs which were fertilised in the presence of the diterpenes lost their cellular integrity and burst just a few hours after treatment. Terpenes were not toxic to unfertilised eggs, nor to 24 h-old embryos, although sperm ceased swimming activity after 1 h of treatment. The terpenes were not fatal to the sperm because fertilisation still occurred in their presence. The ability of the soft coral-derived diterpenes to inhibit cell division suggests that they may have potential applications in cancer chemotherapy.

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Author notes

  1. T. L. Aceret

    Present address: Chancellery, Central Queensland University, 4702, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Sciences, James Cook University of North Queensland, 4811, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    T. L. Aceret

  2. Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), 70344, Chauvin, Louisiana, USA

    P. W. Sammarco

  3. Chancellery, Central Queensland University, 4702, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

    J. C. Coll (c/o Professor J. C. Coll)

Authors
  1. T. L. Aceret
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  2. P. W. Sammarco
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  3. J. C. Coll
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Communicated by G.F. Humphrey, Sydney

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Aceret, T.L., Sammarco, P.W. & Coll, J.C. Effects of diterpenes derived from the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis on the eggs, sperm and embryos of the scleractinian corals Montipora digitata and Acropora tenuis . Marine Biology 122, 317–323 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348945

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348945

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