Cellular mechanisms of high capacity of asexual reproduction and regeneration of reef-building corals

本研究旨在了解珊瑚高无性繁殖能力和长寿命的基本机制。主要发现是；(1)珊瑚在发育过程中端粒长度缩短。这表明，至少在一些快速生长的珊瑚中，估计珊瑚年龄是可能的。(2)不同发育阶段的束状星系端粒长度差异不显著。束草体细胞组织具有较高的端粒酶活性。目前的结果表明，端粒的变化速度可能在珊瑚物种之间是不同的。如果我们要了解珊瑚的老化，就必须研究珊瑚中干细胞的自我更新和分化。

This study aimed to understand the basic mechanisms of high capacity of asexual reproduction and long life spans of corals. The major findings are; (1) Telomere length of the coral Acropora digitifera shortens during development. This suggests that estimation of coral age is possible at least in some fast growing corals. (2) However, significant difference in the telomere length could not be detected among different developmental stages of Galaxea fascicularis. Somatic tissues of G. fascicularis exhibited high telomerase activities. The present results suggest that telomere rate of change might be different among coral species. Self-renewal and differentiation of stem-like cells in coral should be studied if we want to understand aging of coral.