Molecular Biology and Genetic Regulation in Marine Dinoflagelletes

摘要

Our studies are concerned with the structure, organization and expression of the genome of marine dinoflagellates; they commonly occur as free living photosynthetic marine unicells, but also include endosymbiotic, parasitic and heterophic taxa. Some are bioluminescent; some produce potent neurotoxins; and some cause red tides. The dinoflagellate nucleus is unusual in that the chromosomes remain condensed throughout interphase and lack nucleosomes and histone like proteins. We have undertaken the cloning and structure determination of five selected dinoflagellate genes, those in the bioluminescent system coding for luciferase and luciferin binding protein, and those for nitrate reductase, alpha and beta tubulin. cDNA libraries have been constructed; a cDNA for binding protein has been partially sequenced. Presumptive cDNAs for other genes have also been isolated and are being sequenced. Utilizing appropriate sequences for the synthesis of primers, genomic sequences are being prepared with the polymerase chain reaction technique. Keywords: Gene regulation, transcriptional and translational control, Nuclear proteins, Gene cloning, DNA sequencing. (aw)