Comparative analysis of dinoflagellate chloroplast genomes reveals rRNA and tRNA genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Peridinin-containing dinoflagellates have a highly reduced chloroplast genome, which is unlike that found in other chloroplast containing organisms. Genome reduction appears to be the result of extensive transfer of genes to the nuclear genome. Unusually the genes believed to be remaining in the chloroplast genome are found on small DNA 'minicircles'. In this study we present a comparison of sets of minicircle sequences from three dinoflagellate species.

Results

PCR was used to amplify several minicircles from Amphidinium carterae so that a homologous set of gene-containing minicircles was available for Amphidinium carterae and Amphidinium operculatum, two apparently closely related peridinin-containing dinoflagellates. We compared the sequences of these minicircl

SUBMITTER: Barbrook AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1679814 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature