Composition of mucus released by coral reef coelenterates1

Abstract

Mucus from selected Red Sea coelenterates was analyzed for protein, polysaccharide, lipid, monosaccharides, and amino acids. While the proportions of the macromolecular fractions of the different mucins varied widely, the individual makeup of the component proteins and polysaccharides was more uniform. The appearance and transformation of liquid mucus into mucus floc or web material was revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Observations on the mucus web‐forming coral Porites astreoides from Barbados suggested that sediment capture is at least partly responsible for the apparent denaturation of secreted mucus and the transformation of liquid mucus into particulate detritus.