Molecular and biochemical basis for the loss of bioluminescence in the dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans along the west coast of the USA.

ABSTRACT: The globally distributed heterotrophic dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans (Macartney) Kofoid & Swezy is well known for its dense blooms and prominent displays of bioluminescence. Intriguingly, along the west coast of the USA its blooms are not bioluminescent. We investigated the basis for the regional loss of bioluminescence using molecular, cellular and biochemical analyses of isolates from different geographic regions. Prominent differences of the non-bioluminescent strains were: (1) the fused luciferase and luciferin binding protein gene (lcf/lbp) was present but its transcripts were undetectable; (2) lcf/lbp contained multiple potentially deleterious mutations; (3) the substrate luciferin was absent, based on the lack of luciferin blue autofluorescence and the ab

SUBMITTER: Valiadi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7351363 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature