A new Nature Protocols publication provides the first comprehensive, step-by-step method for using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in reef-building corals, giving scientists a powerful new tool to better understand how corals grow, tolerate heat stress, and form their essential partnerships with algae. Co-authored by Dr. Phil Cleves, the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation’s 2023 Pew-Hoover Fellow in Marine and Biomedical Science in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts, the protocol establishes the foundation for a new era of coral functional genomics. By making gene editing more accessible and reproducible, the work will accelerate research aimed at protecting coral reefs from the impacts of climate change.
A new study published in Cell uncovers a previously unknown gut-to-brain signaling pathway that regulates dietary protein intake during recovery from illness and other catabolic states. Led by Dr. Andrew Wang at Yale University, the research demonstrates that specific amino acids generate ammonia during metabolism, which is sensed by gut enterochromaffin cells through a TRPA1-dependent mechanism. This signaling triggers serotonin release and communicates with the brain to reduce further protein intake, protecting the body from ammonia toxicity during vulnerable recovery periods. The findings reveal a fundamental biological system by which the body balances nutrient intake with metabolic safety. The project was funded in part by The Herbert W. Hoover Foundation.
A new study published in Cell uncovers how corals evolved the specialized cellular machinery needed to house the microscopic algae that fuel the world’s coral reefs. Led by Dr. Phil Cleves, the 2023 Pew-Hoover Fellow in Marine and Biomedical Science, the research found that corals repurposed lysosomes—cellular structures traditionally responsible for digestion and recycling—to create the “symbiosome,” the organelle that supports their partnership with photosynthetic algae. The discovery helps explain how this remarkable symbiosis evolved repeatedly throughout nature and provides new insight into the biological processes that underpin the health and resilience of coral reefs.
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
