Mutations responsible for alcohol tolerance in the mutant of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (SY1043) obtained by single-cell screening system.

The production of alcohols directly from carbon dioxide by engineered cyanobacteria is an attractive technology for a sustainable future. Enhanced tolerance to the produced alcohols would be a desirable feature of the engineered cyanobacterial strains with higher alcohol productivity. We have recently obtained the mutant strains of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 with higher tolerance to isopropanol using a single-cell screening system (Arai et al.

Adaptation of Divinyl Chlorophyll a/b-Containing Cyanobacterium to Different Light Conditions: Three Strains of Prochlorococcus marinus.

The light-harvesting mechanisms in the three strains of Prochlorococcus marinus, CCMP1986, CCMP1375, and CCMP2773, grown under blue and red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at two intensity levels were investigated. The blue LED was divinyl chlorophyll b (DV-Chl b) selective and the red LED was DV-Chl a selective. Under the red LED, the relative amount of DV-Chl b in CCMP1375 and CCMP2773 decreased and the relative amount of zeaxanthin increased in CCMP1375.

Genetic identification of macroalgal species on Japanese tsunami marine debris and genetic comparisons with their wild populations.

Since 2012 a huge amount of marine debris caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami has been arriving on Northeastern Pacific shores. Often healthy macroalgae were attached to them, which may become introduced to the Northwestern Pacific coasts and disturb their ecosystems. In order to elucidate the diversity of those macroalgae, and to establish a basis for detecting their new introduction to Northwestern Pacific coasts, we have examined their species diversity by morphology and genetic identifications.

Alcohol-tolerant mutants of cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 obtained by single-cell mutant screening system.

Enhancement of alcohol tolerance in microorganisms is an important strategy for improving bioalcohol productivity. Although cyanobacteria can be used as a promising biocatalyst to produce various alcohols directly from CO , low productivity, and low tolerance against alcohols are the main issues to be resolved. Nevertheless, to date, a mutant with increasing alcohol tolerance has rarely been reported.

Multiple Independent Changes in Mitochondrial Genome Conformation in Chlamydomonadalean Algae.

Chlamydomonadalean green algae are no stranger to linear mitochondrial genomes, particularly members of the Reinhardtinia clade. At least nine different Reinhardtinia species are known to have linear mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs), including the model species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Thus, it is no surprise that some have suggested that the most recent common ancestor of the Reinhardtinia clade had a linear mtDNA.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the genus Wittrockiella (Pithophoraceae, Cladophorales), including the descriptions of W. australis sp. nov. and W. zosterae sp. nov.

Wittrockiella is a small genus of filamentous green algae that occurs in habitats with reduced or fluctuating salinities. Many aspects of the basic biology of these algae are still unknown and the phylogenetic relationships within the genus have not been fully explored. We provide a phylogeny based on three ribosomal markers (ITS, LSU, and SSU rDNA) of the genus, including broad intraspecific sampling for W.

Variety in excitation energy transfer processes from phycobilisomes to photosystems I and II.

The light-harvesting antennas of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms capture light energy and transfer it to the reaction centers of their photosystems. The light-harvesting antennas of cyanobacteria and red algae, called phycobilisomes (PBSs), supply light energy to both photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII). However, the excitation energy transfer processes from PBS to PSI and PSII are not understood in detail.

Taxonomic revision of the Agaraceae with a description of Neoagarum gen. nov. and reinstatement of Thalassiophyllum.

We confirmed the monophyly of the Agaraceae based on phylogenetic analyses of six mitochondrial and six chloroplast gene sequences from Agarum, Costaria, Dictyoneurum, and Thalassiophyllum species, as well as representative species from other laminarialean families. However, the genus Agarum was paraphyletic, comprising two independent clades, A. clathratum/A.

PCoM-DB Update: A Protein Co-Migration Database for Photosynthetic Organisms.

The identification of protein complexes is important for the understanding of protein structure and function and the regulation of cellular processes. We used blue-native PAGE and tandem mass spectrometry to identify protein complexes systematically, and built a web database, the protein co-migration database (PCoM-DB, http://pcomdb.lowtem.

Molecular Phylogeny of the Benthic Dinoflagellate Genus Amphidiniopsis and its Relationships with the Family Protoperidiniaceae.

The genus Amphidiniopsis is a benthic (sand-dwelling) lineage of thecate dinoflagellates, containing 19 morphologically diverse species. Past work has shown that some Amphidiniopsis species form a clade with the sand-dwelling Herdmania litoralis as well as some planktonic species in the family Protoperidiniaceae (i.e.

Molecular phylogeny of Zeacarpa (Ralfsiales, Phaeophyceae) proposing a new family Zeacarpaceae and its transfer to Nemodermatales.

Zeacarpa leiomorpha is a crustose brown alga endemic to South Africa. The species has been tentatively placed in Ralfsiaceae, but its ordinal assignment has been uncertain. The molecular phylogeny of brown algae based on concatenated DNA sequences of seven chloroplast and mitochondrial gene sequences (atpB, psaA, psaB, psbA, psbC, rbcL, and cox1) of taxa covering most of the orders revealed the most related phylogenetic relationship of Z.

Molecular phylogeny of two unusual brown algae, Phaeostrophion irregulare and Platysiphon glacialis, proposal of the Stschapoviales ord. nov. and Platysiphonaceae fam. nov., and a re-examination of divergence times for brown algal orders.

The molecular phylogeny of brown algae was examined using concatenated DNA sequences of seven chloroplast and mitochondrial genes (atpB, psaA, psaB, psbA, psbC, rbcL, and cox1). The study was carried out mostly from unialgal cultures; we included Phaeostrophion irregulare and Platysiphon glacialis because their ordinal taxonomic positions were unclear. Overall, the molecular phylogeny agreed with previously published studies, however, Platysiphon clustered with Halosiphon and Stschapovia and was paraphyletic with the Tilopteridales.

Reproductive morphology and DNA sequences of the brown alga Platysiphon verticillatus support the new combination Platysiphon glacialis.

Platysiphon verticillatus, a brown alga endemic to the Arctic, was described based on vegetative specimens collected at Inglefield Bay, West Greenland. The species is distinctive in having a lanceolate blade-like thallus terminated by a terete portion, both covered with hair-like assimilatory filaments. Punctaria glacialis was described from Eastern Greenland, and the species differs from other Punctaria species in lacking hairs and plurilocular zoidangia.

Relationship between the dinoflagellate cyst Spiniferites pachydermus and Gonyaulax ellegaardiae sp. nov. from Izmir Bay, Turkey, and molecular characterization.

Here, we established the cyst-motile stage relation-ship for Spiniferites pachydermus through incubation of cysts with a characteristically microreticulate/perforate surface isolated from Izmir Bay in the eastern Aegean Sea of the eastern Mediterranean. The morphology of the motile stage was similar to Gonyaulax spinifera but had a different size, overhang, displacement and reticulations. Based on the distinct morphology of the cyst and morphological differences in motile cells, we assigned S.

Excitation relaxation dynamics and energy transfer in pigment-protein complexes of a dinoflagellate, revealed by ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy.

Photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes, found in aquatic photosynthetic organisms, contain a variety of carotenoids and chlorophylls. Most of the photosynthetic dinoflagellates possess two types of light-harvesting antenna complexes: peridinin (Peri)-chlorophyll (Chl) a/c-protein, as an intrinsic thylakoid membrane complex protein (iPCP), and water-soluble Peri-Chl a-protein, as an extrinsic membrane protein (sPCP) on the inner surface of the thylakoid. Peri is a unique carotenoid that has eight C=C bonds and one C=O bond, which results in a characteristic absorption band in the green wavelength region.

Comparative Analysis of Ultrafast Excitation Energy-Transfer Pathways in Three Strains of Divinyl Chlorophyll a/b-Containing Cyanobacterium, Prochlorococcus marinus.

Prochlorococcus, a unique marine picocyanobacterium, contains the divinyl- (DV-) type chlorophylls (Chls), DV-Chl a and DV-Chl b, as its photosynthetic pigments. We comprehensively investigated the light-harvesting mechanisms in three strains of Prochlorococcus marinus (P. marinus) at physiological temperature (293 K) by ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence (TRF), steady-state fluorescence, and absorption measurements.

A pilot-scale floating closed culture system for the multicellular cyanobacterium NIES-39.

Microalgae are considered to be efficient bio-resources for biofuels and bio-based chemicals because they generally have high productivity. The filamentous cyanobacterium () has been widely used for food, feed, and nutrient supplements and is usually cultivated in open ponds. In order to extend the surface area for growing this alga, we designed a pilot-scale floating closed culture system for cultivating on open water and compared the growth and quality of the alga harvested at both subtropical and temperate regions.

Effects of causeway construction on environment and biota of subtropical tidal flats in Okinawa, Japan.

Okinawa, Japan is known for its high marine biodiversity, yet little work has been performed on examining impacts of numerous large-scale coastal development projects on its marine ecosystems. Here, we examine apparent impacts of the construction of the Kaichu-Doro causeway, which was built over 40 years ago. The causeway is a 4.

Taxonomic relationship between two Gammarus species, G. nipponensis and G. sobaegensis (Amphipoda: Gammaridae), with description of a new species.

To assess the taxonomic relationship between G. nipponensis and G. sobaegensis, morphological features and molecular phylogenetic relationships using the nuclear 28S rRNA and the mitochondrial COI genes were examined.

Aquatic plant surface as a niche for methanotrophs.

This study investigated the potential local CH4 sink in various plant parts as a boundary environment of CH4 emission and consumption. By comparing CH4 consumption activities in cultures inoculated with parts from 39 plant species, we observed significantly higher consumption of CH4 associated with aquatic plants than other emergent plant parts such as woody plant leaves, macrophytic marine algae, and sea grass. In situ activity of CH4 consumption by methanotrophs associated with different species of aquatic plants was in the range of 3.

Ligulate Desmarestia (Desmarestiales, Phaeophyceae) revisited: D. japonica sp. nov. and D. dudresnayi differ from D. ligulata.

The phylogeny of ligulate and sulfuric-acid containing species of Desmarestia, occurring worldwide from polar to temperate regions, was revised using a multigenic and polyphasic approach. Sequence data, gametophyte characteristics, and sporophyte morphology support reducing a total of 16 taxa to four different species. (1) D.

Radioactive cesium accumulation in seaweeds by the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant accident-two years' monitoring at Iwaki and its vicinity.

Accumulations of radionuclides in marine macroalgae (seaweeds) resulting from the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant (F1NPP) accident in March 2011 have been monitored for two years using high-purity germanium detectors. Algal specimens were collected seasonally by snorkeling at Nagasaki, Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture (Pref.), Japan, ca.

Ancestral reproductive structure in basal kelp Aureophycus aleuticus.

Laminarialean species (so-called kelps) are the largest photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments, constituting significant ecological components of coastal ecosystems. The largest kelps such as Macrocystis exhibit differentiation between stipe and blade, as well as buoyancy to maintain the distal portion at the water's surface for photosynthesis, while bearing reproductive structures only near the base on special blades (sporophylls). There is a considerable gap between basic kelps such as Chorda and derived kelps, and the evolution of kelp specialization remains unclear.

Trichocyst ribbons of a cryptomonads are constituted of homologs of R-body proteins produced by the intracellular parasitic bacterium of Paramecium.

Trichocysts are ejectile organelles found in cryptomonads, dinoflagellates, and peniculine ciliates. The fine structure of trichocysts differs considerably among lineages, and their evolutionary relationships are unclear. The biochemical makeup of the trichocyst constituents has been studied in the ciliate Paramecium, but there have been no investigations of cryptomonads and dinoflagellates.

Cytoskeleton organization during the cell cycle in two stramenopile microalgae, Ochromonas danica (Chrysophyceae) and Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae), with special reference to F-actin organization and its role in cytokinesis.

F-actin organization during the cell cycle was investigated in two stramenopile microalgae, Ochromonas danica (Chrysophyceae; UTEX LB1298) and Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae; NIES-6) using FITC-phalloidin. In the interphase cell of O. danica, F-actin bundles were localized forming a network structure in the cortical region, which converged from the anterior region to the posterior, whereas in the interphase cell of H.