Evolution of chloroplast replacements

The most abundant dinoflagellate chloroplast type is characterised by using peridinin as the main accessory light harvesting pigment. Two small dinoflagellate groups, however, have replaced this peridinin-containing organelle with chloroplasts acquired fr om haptophytes and prasinophytes - these may represent the only cases of chloroplast replacements in any algal phyla. In this project we aim at investigating the mechanisms involved in chloroplast replacement by using the dinoflagellate species Gymnodiniu m chlorophorum (with prasinophyte chloroplast) and Karlodinium micrum (with haptophyte) as a model system. The goals of the project will be addressed by sequencing the chloroplast genome and Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) libraries of G. chlorophorum and K. micrum. In particular this investigation will reveal rearrangement of the chloroplast genome, identify gen es transferred to the host nucleus and proteins targeted to the chloroplast. Result of this project will form a case toward the development of a mo del system for study of chloroplast replacement. This project will involve Norwegian,Canadian, Swedish and English research groups. Canadian, Swedish and