RUI: Seasonal Turnover of Organic Matrix Collagen in Octocoral Spicules

钙化是一种极为普遍的现象， 生物多样性，如细菌，植物，海绵，蛤， 人类在无脊椎动物中， 覆盖或包裹它们的身体，如珊瑚礁，蜗牛， 贝壳、螃蟹外骨骼和海胆测试和刺。其他 无脊椎动物形成许多通常微观钙化 包裹身体的结构叫做骨针或小骨。 珊瑚或海鞭Leptogorgia virgulata是一个很好的 一种动物的例子，它的整个身体都有精致的针状物。 身体像大多数无脊椎动物的钙化结构一样， 包含一个内部有机基质， 碳酸钙的沉积。然而，不寻常的是， 我们发现这种珊瑚骨针基质含有胶原蛋白， 这种蛋白质对骨骼和牙齿的形成至关重要， 很少与无脊椎动物的碳酸钙结构有关。 此外，这种珊瑚胶原蛋白随季节变化， 在夏天占主导地位。这个为期三年的项目将探讨在 珊瑚骨针钙化与 随着时间的推移，将使用各种特定的标记进行研究。为 例如，四环素是荧光标记物，45Ca是荧光标记物。 放射性钙化放射性标记脯氨酸和特异性 我们最近开发的抗体标记， 合成.这些成分可以通过荧光可视化 和透射电子显微镜，并通过定量 存在标记的量。骨重建涉及以下变化： 酸性和酶针状物使用酶反应和其他 特异性抗体标记。这个项目的一个重要方面是 就是学生调查员的参与

Calcification is an extremely widespread phenomenon occurring in organisms as diverse as bacteria, plants, sponges, clams and humans. Among the invertebrates, there are calcified structures that cover or encase their bodies such as coral reefs, snail shells, crab exoskeletons and sea urchin tests and spines. Other invertebrates form numerous usually microscopic calcified structures that impregnate the body called spicules or ossicles. The octocoral or sea whip Leptogorgia virgulata is an excellent example of an animal possessing elaborate spicules throughout its body. Like most invertebrate calcified structures, these spicules contain an internal organic matrix that provides a framework for the deposition of calcium carbonate. What is unusual, however, is our discovery that this octocoral spicule matrix contains collagen, a protein that is critical in the formation of bones and teeth, but is rarely associated with invertebrate calcium carbonate structure. Furthermore, this octocoral collagen varies seasonally, being predominant in the summer. This three-year project will explore in depth the relationships between octocoral spicule calcification over time will be studied using a variety of specific markers. For example, tetracycline is a fluorescent marker and 45Ca is a radioactive calcification. Radiolabelled proline and specific antibody markers that we have recently developed, mark collagen synthesis. These components can be visualized through fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy, and measured by quantifying the amount of label present. Bone remodelling involves changes in acidity and enzyme spicules using enzymatic reactions and other specific antibody markers. An important dimension of this project is the involvement of student investigators.