Molecular Biology of the Photoregulation of Photosynthetic Light- Harvesting Complexes in Marine Dinoflagellates

Abstract : Our goal is to continue to use biotechnological techniques to study the genetic bases of light- and nutrient- regulation of photosynthetic light- harvesting complexes in marine dinoflagellates and their consequences for the bio-optical features of these algae. The studies are significant to determining the molecular bases of environmental regulation of gene expression and photosynthetic performance in marine phytoplankton. Results also contribute to understanding the linkages between light environments and cell optical properties, key elements in physiologically-based bio-optical models being developed to predict ocean primary production. Keywords: Photosynthesis; Clones; DNA; PCP (Peridinin-Chlorophyll A-protein).