Colorimetric Detection of Caspase 3 Activity and Reactive Oxygen Derivatives: Potential Early Indicators of Thermal Stress in Corals

Figure 1

Model of oxidative stress induced by heat stress in corals leading to bleaching events. Blue shapes stand for measures carried out in the study, using the following methods: total glutathione quantitation (1), caspase 3 (2) and catalase (3) activities measurements, PAM fluorometry (4), zooxanthellae density estimation (5), and visual bleaching monitoring (6). PSI: photosystem I; PSII: photosystem II; TM: thylakoid membrane; : superoxide anion; H₂O₂: hydrogen peroxide; HO^•: hydroxyl radical; SOD: superoxide dismutase; CAT: catalase; GSHp: glutathione peroxidase; GSH: glutathione; GSSG: glutathione disulphide; APX: ascorbate peroxidase.