Phylogenetic analysis of noxious red tide flagellates Chattonella antiqua, C. marina, C. ovata, and C. verruculosa (Raphidophyceae) based on the rRNA gene family

摘要

Four species of Chattonella, which are well known to form red tides that are lethal to fish, were subjected to phylogenetic analysis on the basis of the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA), 5.8S rDNA, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and the flanking internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2). The 18S rDNA sequences of C. antiqua, C. marina, and C. ovata isolated from different regions in Japan were compared. They were found to be identical with each other in a sequence 1818 bp long. The sequences of the D1/D2 region in the 28S rDNA, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS region that are known to be more variable regions were also found to be identical. These homogeneities of the rRNA gene family revealed the extremely close relatedness of C. antiqua, C. marina, and C. ovata. The sequences of C. verruculosa were different from those of these three species, resulting in an 89.2% homology in the 18S rDNA sequences, 70.4% homology in the D1/D2 region in the 28S rDNA sequences, and an 81.5% homology in 5.8S rDNA sequences and the ITS regions. Chattonella verruculosa was grouped within a single cluster composed of Dictyochophyceae rather than the other species of Raphidophyceae.