Changes of Phospholipid Molecular Species Profile Upon Bleaching and Subsequent Restoration of Coral Sinularia heterospiculata

The cause of death of coral reefs is bleaching, which substantially changes the molecular species profile of membrane lipids phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), phosphatidylinositols (PI), and phosphatidylserines (PS). The total contents of PE, PS, and PI were found to increase statistically significantly upon restoration of partially bleached soft coral Sinularia heterospiculata. The contents of PE ethers decreased during bleaching of S. heterospiculata because they could act as protection from oxidative stress. The PE molecular species profile of restored coral returned to the control values.