Dienstag, 29. Mai 2007

UV light has a short wavelength and high energy



UV light has a short wavelength and high energy that can be damaging to cells by altering their molecules, proteins, or DNA. Organisms have ... Alle » therefore developed strategies to protect itself from this deleterious wavelength. One proposed strategy is the possession of compounds homologous to green fluorescent proteins (GFP) that are able to capture and dissipate the high energy from the UV light and remit it as non-damaging light at greater wavelength. This effect can be seen by the fluorescent coloration emitted by the coral animal, captured with a camera equipped with a yellow filter when shined with a UV light.

Credits Cinematography: Dr. Dimitri Deheyn & Neilan Kuntz Edited by: Neilan Kuntz Written by: Dr. Dimitri Deheyn Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama (2005)

Mazel CH et al. (2003) Green-fluorescent proteins in Caribbean corals. Limnology & Oceanography 48(1, part 2) 402-411

Salih, A, A Laricum, G Cox, M Kahl, O Hoegh-Guldberg(2000) Fluorescent pigments in corals are photoprotective. Nature 408:850-853

Ugalde JA, BSW Chang, MV Matz (2004) Evolution of coral pigments recreated. Science 305:1433

Zawada DG, JS Jaffe (2003) Changes in the fluorescence of the Caribbean coral Montastraea faveolata during heat-induced bleaching. Limnology & Oceanography 48(1, part 2): 412-425 «