|
The physiology team studies biomineralization and symbiosis at molecular and cellular levels of the organism.
Research is especially concerned with :
| |
 |
Physiology and calcification:
transport mechanisms, ion deposition and regulation. |
| |
|
The role of the organic
matrix in the coral organism. |
| |
|
Symbiotic
relations between the host animal and its photosynthetic partner
(photosynthesis, hyperoxic and hypoxic adaptation…) |
The techniques set up are numerous and varied:
| - |
Physiological techniques of ion transport:
isotope kinetics, pharmacology |
| - |
Optic and electronic microscopy techniques
for ultra-structural studies, immuno-localisation, in situ hybridization |
| - |
Cellular imaging techniques
using ionic dyes (pH, Ca) with confocal microscopy |
| - |
Cell culture techniques with viability
and enzymatic tests |
| - |
Biochemical techniques with protein
extraction, electrophoresis, Western Blot, Dot Blot, chromatography,
45Ca2+
binding tests |
| - |
Molecular biology techniques: creating
an DNA bank, PCR, Cloning, Southern Blot, Northern Blot, EMSA |
These processes are studied at the organism level, on coral microcolonies,
sea anemones, and at the cellular scale on developing cell cultures
|
