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A GENETIC MARKER TO SEPARATE EMILIANIA HUXLEYI (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) MORPHOTYPES 1
Author(s) -
Schroeder Declan C.,
Biggi Gaia F.,
Hall Matthew,
Davy Joanne,
Martínez Joaquín Martínez,
Richardson Anthony J.,
Malin Gillian,
Wilson William H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2005.04188.x
Subject(s) - coccolith , emiliania huxleyi , biology , coccolithophore , botany , ecology , phytoplankton , nutrient , materials science , carbonate , metallurgy
Emiliania huxleyi (Lohm.) Hay and Mohler is a ubiquitous unicellular marine alga surrounded by an elaborate covering of calcite platelets called coccoliths. It is an important primary producer involved in oceanic biogeochemistry and climate regulation. Currently, E. huxleyi is separated into five morphotypes based on morphometric, physiological, biochemical, and immunological differences. However, a genetic marker has yet to be found to characterize these morphotypes. With the use of sequence analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, we discovered a genetic marker that correlates significantly with the separation of the most widely recognized A and B morphotypes. Furthermore, we reveal that the A morphotype is composed of a number of distinct genotypes. This marker lies within the 3′ untranslated region of a coccolith associated protein mRNA, which is implicated in regulating coccolith calcification. Consequently, we tentatively termed this marker the coccolith morphology motif.