Michigan State researchers connect over coral

trueBiochemistry,College of Natural Science,Plant Research Laboratory06/14/2023Michigan State researchers connect over coral

MSU biochemist Robert Quinn has spent years studying the biochemistry of coral bleaching, a heat-induced response to stress causing it to turn white. Bleaching is damaging to reefs and is expected to increase due to climate change. While Quinn has discovered unique betaine lipids in coral that are markers of resistance to coral bleaching, very little is known about them. During a literature review of these lipids, Quinn discovered that MSU colleague, Christoph Benning, had written on the subject. This connection led to the two scientists teaming up on a $1.9 million NSF grant to study the role that betaine lipids play in coral bleaching.

MSU researchers Robert Quinn and Christoph Benning have received a $1.9M grant from the National Science Foundation to study the role that betaine lipids play in coral bleaching resistance.
During an El Nino event, there is an abnormal warming of ocean temperatures in the Pacific which causes stress on tropical reef coral.
This research could be used to develop new strategies for protecting coral reefs from the effects of climate change.

Emilie Lorditch

MSU scientists Christoph Benning and Robert Quinn are growing new coral in the lab that will be transplanted to a reef in Hawaii..

MSU-DOE Plant Research LaboratoryNSFbiochemistry and molecular biologyclimate changecollaborationcoral bleaching