Our Theme 4 “Imagerie” is pleased to welcome you for a seminar on the biology of coral biomineralisation. If you wonder how coral reefs develop and want to hear world experts in the field, please come listening to our guests from the Centre Scientifique de Monaco on Thursday, 25th June at 11:00 a.m. in our Pierre Cotton room.
Title: From Light to Limestone: The cell biology of calcification in symbiotic reef-building corals by Alexander Venn and Eric Tambutté from Centre Scientifique de Monaco.
Abstract : Reef-building corals produce their calcium carbonate skeleton through a thin but highly specialised tissue: the calicoblastic epithelium. Despite its central role in biomineralisation, the cell biology of this layer remains poorly understood. In our group, we use in vivo approaches, including confocal imaging and microelectrode techniques, to directly investigate its function. Today, we will discuss how this epithelium regulates the chemistry of the extracellular calcifying medium, focusing on calcium, DIC, and pH regulation, and how these processes are energetically supported by the photosynthetic activity of coral symbionts.
