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Chemical changes accompanying maturation of the connective tissue skeletons of gorgonian and antipatharian corals

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Abstract

The skeletons of 3 gorgonian and 2 antipatharian corals were subjected to quantitative chemical analysis. Protein values ranged from 70.4 to 93.6%; ash from 3.0 to 19.4%; lipid from 0 to 8.4%; carbohydrate from 1.24 to 3.94% and halogen from 4.2 to 24.9% of the dry skeletal weight. Hydroxyproline and phenolic values were 0 to 3.0% and 11.6 to 25.0% of the protein, respectively. Lipid, present in 2 gorgonian species and 1 antipatharian, significantly decreased with age in all three cases. Glucose and galactose accounted for over 90%, and sialic acids for an additional 1 to 10%, of the carbohydrate in the gorgonian skeletons studied; the glucose content of the gorgonian skeleton decreased with age. The antipatharian skeletons possessed no glucose or galactose, but contained significant levels of amino sugars; the presence of chitin is confirmed. In the gorgonians, bromine and iodine, the predominant halogens, increased with skeletal age and were present in nearly equal amounts. Small amounts of bromine were found in the antipatharian skeletons, but very large amounts of iodine were found in older parts of the skeleton. The basal regions of both antipatharian species contained >23% by weight of iodine, the highest content of iodine yet recorded for any organism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    W. M. Goldberg

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  1. W. M. Goldberg
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Communicated by J.M. Lawrence, Tampa

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Goldberg, W.M. Chemical changes accompanying maturation of the connective tissue skeletons of gorgonian and antipatharian corals. Marine Biology 49, 203–210 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00391132

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