Reef-building corals are famous for their spectacular colors, ranging from blue and green to yellow, pink, orange and red. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like proteins contribute to this coloration in a major way. They were initially discovered in nonbioluminescent, zooxanthellate anthozoa, including actiniaria, zoantharia, corallimorpharia and stolonifera [1][2][3][4], and subsequently recognized as major color determinants of hermatypic reef corals [5][6][7] and also of azooxanthellate anthozoans [8].In addition to GFP-like proteins from the anthozoa, the presence of symbionts also contributes to reef coloration. The brownish tones of cnidarians may arise from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, the For a variety of coral species, we have studied the molecular origin of their coloration to assess the contributions of host and symbiont pigments. For the corals Catalaphyllia jardinei and an orange-emitting color morph of Lobophyllia hemprichii, the pigments belong to a particular class of green fluorescent protein-like proteins that change their color from green to red upon irradiation with 400 nm light. The optical absorption and emission properties of these proteins were characterized in detail. Their spectra were found to be similar to those of phycoerythrin from cyanobacterial symbionts. To unambiguously determine the molecular origin of the coloration, we performed immunochemical studies using double diffusion in gel analysis on tissue extracts, including also a third coral species, Montastrea cavernosa, which allowed us to attribute the red fluorescent coloration to green-to-red photoconvertible fluorescent proteins. The red fluorescent proteins are localized mainly in the ectodermal tissue and contribute up to 7.0% of the total soluble cellular proteins in these species. Distinct spatial distributions of green and cyan fluorescent proteins were observed for the tissues of M. cavernosa. This observation may suggest that differently colored green fluorescent protein-like proteins have different, specific functions. In addition to green fluorescent protein-like proteins, the pigments of zooxanthellae have a strong effect on the visual appearance of the latter species.Abbreviations cjarRFP, Catalaphyllia jardinei red fluorescent protein; EosFP, Eos fluorescent protein; FP, fluorescent protein; GFP, green fluorescent protein; lhemOFP, Lobophyllia hemprichii orange fluorescent protein; mcavRFP, Montastrea cavernosa red fluorescent protein; rPE, phycoerythrin from the red alga Fauchea sp.; scubRFP, Scolymia cubensis red fluorescent protein.
Pigments homologous to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) contribute up to ∼ 14% of the soluble protein content of many anthozoans. Maintenance of such high tissue levels poses a severe energetic penalty to the animals if protein turnover is fast. To address this as yet unexplored issue, we established that the irreversible green‐to‐red conversion of the GFP‐like pigments from the reef corals Montastrea cavernosa (mcavRFP) and Lobophyllia hemprichii (EosFP) is driven by violet–blue radiation in vivo and in situ. In the absence of photoconverting light, we subsequently tracked degradation of the red‐converted forms of the two proteins in coral tissue using in vivo spectroscopy and immunochemical detection of the post‐translational peptide backbone modification. The pigments displayed surprisingly slow decay rates, characterized by half‐lives of ∼ 20 days. The slow turnover of GFP‐like proteins implies that the associated energetic costs for being colorful are comparatively low. Moreover, high in vivo stability makes GFP‐like proteins suitable for functions requiring high pigment concentrations, such as photoprotection.
The competition for space among fluorescent and nonfluorescent Anemonia species was monitored in the Mediterranean Sea in order to see whether the fluorescent species A. sulcata var. smaragdina was a better competitor in shallow water habitats. Over a period of 11 years, A. sulcata var. smaragdina convincingly out competed the nonfluorescent A. rustica. We thereby found support for the notion that the GFP-like pigments may increase competitive ability in anthozoans.
BACKGROUND Brain metastasis (BM) is the most common form of brain cancer affecting 20-40% of cancer patients. Advancements in cancer therapy has prolonged survival but BM incidence has increased. BM management requires a multidisciplinary approach to individualize care via an ever-growing sum of surgical, radiation, and systemic therapy options. Consensus is achieved by multidisciplinary tumor board meeting (MTBm). Nevertheless, BM diagnosis predicts poor prognosis. Palliative Care (PC) is essential for proper BM management. Yet, formal PC assessment may not be available for MTBm. We evaluated whether MTBm consensus recommendations were followed. RESULTS Our weekly MTBm discussed 157 BM cases during 2019 (median age: 64 years [range 28-91], male/female: 82/75). The most common primary diagnosis was lung (n=49, 31%), breast (n=24, 15%), melanoma (n=16, 10%). The majority was newly diagnosed BM (n=143, 91%). MTBm recommendations were divided into three not-mutually-exclusive categories: surveillance/workup (n=78, 50%), BM-directed treatment (n=101, 64%) and GOC discussion (n=7, 4%). MTBm recommendations were fully followed in 113 cases (72%), partially in 13(8%), and not followed in 25(16%). Of the 38 patients whose recommendations were partially/not followed, the main reason was transition to hospice/death (n=26, 68%). Of the 101 patients recommended treatment, 68% (n=68) fully followed it, yet 31% (n=21) of them died within 3 months; for those living longer than 3 months (n=47, 69%), median KPS at 3 months was 70 (range 30-90). Of the entire cohort (n=157), only 20 (13%) established consistent PC follow-up (>1 outpatient visit) and 69 cases (44%) transitioned to hospice/died within 6 months, 30 of which (43%) still completed surgery (n=6) or radiotherapy (n=24) within this period. CONCLUSION Periodic assessment of MTBm recommendations is relevant for sensible BM management. Balancing treatment while focusing on QoL in a patient population with limited survival is challenging. PC assessment at MTBm could close this gap.
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