Margenes :  European Framework V project QLRT-2001-01226

Marine phytoplankton as novel model organisms for genomic and post-genomic studies of environmental sensing and niche adaptation

Abstract

Cyanobacteria (prokayotes) and diatoms (eukaryotes) dominate the microalgal biomass in oceanic ecosystems.

Since the marine environment represents a relatively untapped resource with regard to functional gene diversity, a significant potential exists for use of these phytoplankton species as novel model organisms &/or as expression systems. Their wide distribution in the world ocean indicates that they possess sophisticated strategies for responding to environmental change.

Using novel genomic or EST information from these two phytoplankton groups, we will identify genes which play crucial roles in the different aspects of the relationships between the cells and their environment with a focus on niche-specific genes.

We will develop DNA arrays for expression analysis and develop technology for mutant construction and reporter gene fusion analysis.

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