Molecular basis of FGF signaling in heat-induced polyp bailout in <i>Pocillopora damicornis</i>

Wang Yi; Yu Qiuyu; Zeng Sainan; Liu Zhaoqun; Zhou Zhi

doi:10.12284/hyxb202500-1

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Wang Yi，Yu Qiuyu，Zeng Sainan, et al. Molecular basis of FGF signaling in heat-induced polyp bailout in Pocillopora damicornis[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 48(x)：1–14 doi: 10.12284/hyxb202500-1

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Wang Yi，Yu Qiuyu，Zeng Sainan, et al. Molecular basis of FGF signaling in heat-induced polyp bailout in Pocillopora damicornis[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 48(x)：1–14 doi: 10.12284/hyxb202500-1

Wang Yi，Yu Qiuyu，Zeng Sainan, et al. Molecular basis of FGF signaling in heat-induced polyp bailout in Pocillopora damicornis[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2025, 48(x)：1–14 doi: 10.12284/hyxb202500-1

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Molecular basis of FGF signaling in heat-induced polyp bailout in Pocillopora damicornis

doi: 10.12284/hyxb202500-1

Wang Yi^1
,,
Yu Qiuyu¹,
Zeng Sainan¹,
Liu Zhaoqun^{1
,
,},
Zhou Zhi¹

School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China

Received Date: 2025-08-29
Rev Recd Date: 2025-11-19

Available Online: 2025-12-01

Abstract

Abstract

In this study, two fibroblast growth factor (FGF) genes, named as PdFGF1 and PdFGF17, were identified and cloned from the coral Pocillopora damicornis. Sequence analysis showed that PdFGF1 and PdFGF17 encode 195 and 149 amino acids, respectively. Both contain a signal peptide and a typical FGF domain, with characteristic β–sheets and η–loops in their topological structures. The FGF family in higher animals can be divided into seven subfamilies (FGF1, FGF4, FGF7, FGF8, FGF9, FGF11, and FGF19). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that PdFGF1 belongs to the FGF1 subfamily, sharing 30.15% sequence identity with HsFGF1 (Homo sapiens), whereas PdFGF17 clusters with the FGF8 subfamily, sharing 29.36% identity with HsFGF17. To further elucidate their biological roles, transcriptomic analysis was performed on P. damicornis under heat stress induced polyp bailout. The results showed that the expression levels of FGF family genes (PdFGF1, PdFGF2, PdFGF9, PdFGF17, PdFGF18, PdFGFR1, PdFGFR2, PdFGFR3 and PdFGFR4) were significantly upregulated during the detachment process. Moreover, the FGF signaling pathway was found to activate the downstream Ras/MAPK cascade, thereby regulating cytoskeletal remodeling and cell adhesion. Gene co-expression network analysis using Cytoscape further revealed significant co-expression relationships between FGF genes and extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading genes in the coenosarc tissue, including ADAMTSs, COL21A1, CTSZ, and P4HA. Collectively, these findings suggest that heat stress activates the FGF signaling pathway in P. damicornis, promoting ECM degradation and ultimately mediating coenosarc dissociation and polyp bailout.
- Fibroblast growth factor,
- Polyp bailout,
- Thermal stress,
- Weighted gene co-expression network analysis,
- Gene cloning

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References(62)

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