| SS4.02 Ecology and Physiology of Marine Organisms: Insights from Genes, Genomes, and Proteomes |
| Armbrust, E, V, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, armbrust@ocean.washington.edu |
| |
| DIATOM GENOME PROJECT: NEW INSIGHTS INTO DIATOM PHYSIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY |
 |
| The whole genome sequence of the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana has recently been completed and annotated as part of a large collaborative effort between researchers from the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Australia. A combination of sequence data, physical mapping, and bioinformatics analyses indicates that the nuclear genome is about 33 megabases and consists of at least 11,000 genes distributed between 23 chromosomes. Diatoms are derived from a secondary endosymbiotic event in which a eukaryotic heterotroph engulfed a eukaryotic autotroph. Perhaps not surprisingly, we have found that in addition to its autotrophic capabilities, the diatom has incorporated metabolic pathways and regulatory systems that are more commonly associated with heterotrophic eukaryotes such as yeast and animals to create a fascinating chimera of attributes. I will provide examples from our latest analyses of nutrient and light utilization by diatoms with a focus on their biogeochemical roles. I will also discuss in a broader sense how genomic identification of the metabolic potentials of organisms can provide important new insights into organism/environment interactions. |
|
|