Bioactive Cembranoid Composition in the Soft Coral of Sarcophyton glaccum on The Response to Changing pH
Abstract: Soft coral is
predicted to outcompete with hard coral in future ocean acidification
scenarios. Beside the biological resilience shown in acidic conditions, soft
corals ability to maintain or compete for space is shown to relate with their
ability to produce cytotoxic cembranoid-type compounds. The aim of this study
was to investigate composition of cytotoxic cembranoid compounds of Sarcophyton
glaccum soft coral exposed to current and predicted future ocean acidification
scenarios. Sarcophyton glaccum colonies were acclimated along a pH gradient to
simulate predicted increases in ocean acidification: natural/current (pH 8,2),
slight increase in acidification (pH 8.0 year-1 2060), and moderate increase in
acidification (pH 7,8 year-1 2100). Cembranoid composition was determined by
quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy while cytotoxic activity
was determined against tumor cell lines. Results of the study showed
cytotoxicity and sarcophytoxide (the most active cembranoid compound in
observed Sarcophyton glaccum) were both found to be higher at pH 8,0. However,
a further increase of acidification resulted on a reduction of both the
cytotoxicity and sarcophytoxide production. This suggests that acidification
pressures affect directly the defense system metabolism of Sarcophyton glaccum
and that while they may be resilient to small decreases in pH, their ability to
compete for space may be hampered by more pronounced changes.
Keywords: Cembranoids;
Cytotoxic; Sarcophyton glaccum; Seawater Acidification; Soft Coral.
Author: Hedi Indra Januar,
Neviaty Putri Zamani, Dedi Soedharma, Ekowati Chasanah
Journal Code: jpperikanangg170036
