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7871601 
Journal Article 
Regulation of coral calcification by the acid-base sensing enzyme soluble adenylyl cyclase 
Barott, KL; Venn, AA; Thies, AB; Tambutté, S; Tresguerres, M 
2020 
Yes 
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
ISSN: 0006-291X
EISSN: 1090-2104 
525 
3 
576-580 
English 
32115151 
WOS:000545963800007 
Coral calcification is intricately linked to the chemical composition of the fluid in the extracellular calcifying medium (ECM), which is situated between the calcifying cells and the skeleton. Here we demonstrate that the acid-base sensing enzyme soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is expressed in calcifying cells of the coral Stylophora pistillata. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of sAC in coral microcolonies resulted in acidification of the ECM as estimated by the pH-sensitive ratiometric indicator SNARF, and decreased calcification rates, as estimated by calcein labeling of crystal growth. These results indicate that sAC activity modulates some of the molecular machinery involved in producing the coral skeleton, which could include ion-transporting proteins and vesicular transport. To our knowledge this is the first study to directly demonstrate biological regulation of the alkaline pH of the coral ECM and its correlation with calcification.