Identification and characterization of neuropeptides in 4 coral species.

Stony corals, or scleractinians, are key organisms within reef ecosystems and constitute major reservoirs of marine biodiversity. Beyond their essential ecological role, these animals also hold substantial economic importance in tropical and subtropical regions, where they support fisheries, tourism, and the protection of coastlines from erosion by acting as natural breakwaters. However, these fragile ecosystems are undergoing a rapid decline driven by coastal anthropization, global warming, the spread of pathogens, and contamination by microplastics or certain chemical compounds found in sunscreens. Since 2009, approximately 14% of coral reefs have disappeared, highlighting the urgent need for conservation measures.

Understanding coral physiology is a critical prerequisite for predicting environmental impacts and for developing effective strategies for coral aquaculture and reef restoration. Yet current knowledge remains limited, particularly regarding the role of neuropeptides in regulating the physiological functions of these organisms.

Cnidarians, the group to which corals belong, only possess a diffuse nervous system that enables them to perceive environmental stimuli, regulate physiological processes, and defend against pathogens. In some cnidarians, such as hydra and jellyfish, neuropeptides act as modulators or hormones involved in various physiological functions, including polyp contraction, larval metamorphosis, settlement, gamete maturation, and immune response. More than fifty neuropeptides have been identified in cnidarians, yet only two groups have been described and characterized in corals to date.

My work is part of a French-Taiwanese ANR-funded project (Coral Neuropeptide Project – CNP) dedicated to identifying and characterizing the neuropeptides found in four coral species: Fimbriaphyllia ancora, Stylophora pistillata, Acropora tenuis, and Galaxea astreata. The project combines several complementary approaches, including in silico genome annotation, transcriptomic analyses to assess gene expression under different environmental conditions, and peptidomic profling by mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the complete set of peptides and neuropeptides produced by these species.