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USING MOLECULAR PROBES TO DETECT CYANOBACTERIAL COMMUNITIES AND PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION IN THE GREAT LAKES

Kutovaya, Olga A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1304542118

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
We examined the genetic potential of picocyanobacteria to recruit different sources of organic phosphorus, as well as their capacity to switch from phospholipids to sulfolipids in both Lake Erie and Lake Superior. The pelagic regions of Lake Superior and eastern Lake Erie are typically P-limited environments, and picocyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus are the dominant primary producers during the summer. Specifically, the ability of endemic microbes to assimilate organic phosphates and phosphonates have been examined. As a proxy for their utilization of these substrates, the expression of two genes, phnD and phoX have been monitored. The phnD gene encodes the phosphonate binding protein of the ABC-type phosphonate transporter, whereas the phoX gene encodes a calcium-dependent alkaline phosphatase. To assess the ability of freshwater Synechococcus spp. to substitute sulfolipids for phospholipids, sqdX gene expression was monitored. The sqdX gene is a gene essential for sulfolipid biosynthesis and encodes the cyanobacterial sulfolipid synthase. We have developed PCR primers to detect the presence of all three genes in the endemic picocyanobacteria, and RT-PCR is being used to examine the patterns of expression that serve to assess the degree of P-stress experienced in the phytoplankton. To date, we show that the phnD gene is constitutively expressed, suggesting that freshwater picocyanobacteria are metabolizing exogenous phosphonate compounds in the severely P-limited environments. In contrast, phoX is regulated by P bioavailability in Great Lakes picocyanobacteria. We also provide evidence that sqdX is expressed during increased growth rates in phosphorus-replete conditions.
George Bullerjahn, Dr (Advisor)
Michael McKay, Dr. (Committee Member)
Scott Rogers, Dr. (Committee Member)
Zhaohui Xu, Dr. (Committee Member)
Elmas Irmak, Dr. (Other)
128 p.
Ecology; Environmental Science; Freshwater Ecology; Limnology; Microbiology; Molecular Biology
picocyanobacteria; phosphorus; stress response genes; adaptation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kutovaya, O. A. (2011). USING MOLECULAR PROBES TO DETECT CYANOBACTERIAL COMMUNITIES AND PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION IN THE GREAT LAKES [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1304542118

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kutovaya, Olga. USING MOLECULAR PROBES TO DETECT CYANOBACTERIAL COMMUNITIES AND PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION IN THE GREAT LAKES. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1304542118.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kutovaya, Olga. "USING MOLECULAR PROBES TO DETECT CYANOBACTERIAL COMMUNITIES AND PHOSPHORUS UTILIZATION IN THE GREAT LAKES." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1304542118

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1304542118
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.