Alexandrium fundyense NEU2011: Difference between revisions

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==Description and significance==
==Description and significance==
Alexandrium fundyense is a photosynthetic marine dinoflagellate that lives
<i>Alexandrium fundyense</i> is a photosynthetic marine dinoflagellate that lives
in the upper water column (photic-zone) of coastal waters (2). It is a part of the
in the upper water column (photic-zone) of coastal waters (2). It is a part of the
Thecate group or “armored dinoflagellates”, meaning it has thecal plates made of
Thecate group or “armored dinoflagellates”, meaning it has thecal plates made of
Line 20: Line 20:
in the thecal plates and provides propulsion and a spinning motion. The other is a
in the thecal plates and provides propulsion and a spinning motion. The other is a
longitudinal flagellum that extends from the posterior end of the cell and acts as
longitudinal flagellum that extends from the posterior end of the cell and acts as
a steering system (2). Alexandrium fundyense is a very significant microbe on the
a steering system (2). <i>Alexandrium fundyense</i> is a very significant microbe on the
eastern seaboard as it causes yearly Red tide events when there are high nutrients
eastern seaboard as it causes yearly Red tide events when there are high nutrients
and low grazing pressures in the coastal waters (3). These large coastal blooms of
and low grazing pressures in the coastal waters (3). These large coastal blooms of
A. fundyense cause problems because they produce a neuromuscular toxin called
<i>A. fundyense</i> cause problems because they produce a neuromuscular toxin called
a saxitoxin, which accumulates up the food chain and concentrates in the tissue of
a saxitoxin, which accumulates up the food chain and concentrates in the tissue of
filter-feeding shellfish and fish. The consumption of these toxic shellfish by humans
filter-feeding shellfish and fish. The consumption of these toxic shellfish by humans

Revision as of 16:32, 22 February 2011

Alexandrium fundyense NEU2011

Drawing of Alexandria fundyense.
Cartoon drawing of Alexandria fundyense (8).

Classification

Eukaryota (Domain)

Protozoa (Kingdom)

Dinoflagellata (Phylum)

Dinophyceae (Class)

Peridiniphycidae (Subclass)

Gonyaulacales (Order)

Gonyaulacaceae (Family)

Alexandrium (Genus) (1)

Description and significance

Alexandrium fundyense is a photosynthetic marine dinoflagellate that lives in the upper water column (photic-zone) of coastal waters (2). It is a part of the Thecate group or “armored dinoflagellates”, meaning it has thecal plates made of cellulose) surrounding the cell like armor (2). Like all dinoflagellates it has two flagella. One is the transverse flagellum, which wraps around the cell in a groove in the thecal plates and provides propulsion and a spinning motion. The other is a longitudinal flagellum that extends from the posterior end of the cell and acts as a steering system (2). Alexandrium fundyense is a very significant microbe on the eastern seaboard as it causes yearly Red tide events when there are high nutrients and low grazing pressures in the coastal waters (3). These large coastal blooms of A. fundyense cause problems because they produce a neuromuscular toxin called a saxitoxin, which accumulates up the food chain and concentrates in the tissue of filter-feeding shellfish and fish. The consumption of these toxic shellfish by humans can lead to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), which can be fatal (3). It also leads to the shut down of coastal fishing in affected areas, which has large economic consequences for the fishing industry in those areas (3).

Genome Structure

The complete genome of Alexandrium fundyense has been sequenced (4) and it has been found that A. fundyense has highly redundant nuclear genes (5). DNA sequencing is the most frequently used and most reliable method for distinguishing different species of the Alexandrium genus. There is evidence of very little transcriptional regulation (5) and the mitochondrial mRNA is subject to editing (6).

Cell structure and metabolism

Ecology

Pathology

Current Research

Cool Fact

References

(1)Alexandrium fundyense Balech (1996-2001). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Algaebase official site http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=40289.

(2)http://www.eol.org/pages/910093

(3)Bruce A. Keafer, James H. Churchill, Dennis J. McGillicuddy, Donald M. Anderson. 2005. Bloom development and transport of toxic Alexandrium fundyense populations within a coastal plume in the Gulf of Maine. Deep-Sea Research Part II. 52: 2674-2697

(4)http://www.boldsystems.org/views/taxbrowser.php?taxid=317138 Accessed 2/20/2011

(5)Erdner, D. L. and D. M. Anderson. 2006. Global transcriptional profiling of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense using Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing. BMC genomics 7:88

(6)Zhang, H. and S. Lin. 2005. Mitochondrial cytochrome b mRNA editing in dinoflagellates: possible ecological and evolutionary associations? Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 52:538-545.