Micromonas is a common member of marine phytoplankton communities and the genome sequences are aiding our understanding of the environmental success of these picophytoplankton. The genome is also helpful to those working on the evolution of higher plants. Micromonas belongs to the Prasinophyceae which are ancient members of the green lineage, the lineage giving rise to higher plants. Plants of the green lineage currently dominate terrestrial plant biomass. In terms of its biology, Micromonas is a fast swimmer and, unlike many members of the Prasinophyceae, does not have scales on its cell surface. Micromonas strain CCMP1545 was isolated from temperate coastal waters near Plymouth, England (North Atlantic/English Channel waters). This is in contrast to the environment from which another strain that is being sequenced (Micromonas RCC299) was isolated. RCC299 was isolated from tropical waters (equatorial Pacific). Micromonas strain CCMP1545 was isolated in 1950 and rendered axenic in 1992. The axenic CCMP1545 culture is available at the Center for Culture of Marine Phytoplankton. For more information on isolation sites, phylogeny, medias and growth conditions for this strain go to PrasinoSite.Publication: Green Evolution and Dynamic Adaptations Revealed by Genomes of the Marine Picoeukaryotes Micromonas. Science. 2009 April 10;324(5924):268-272 References Knight-Jones E.W. & P.R. Walne (1951) Chromulina pusilla Butcher, a dominant member of the ultraplankton. Nature. Vol. 167:445-446. Slapeta J., López-García P. & D. Moreira (2006) Global Dispersal and Ancient Cryptic Species in the Smallest Marine Eukaryotes. Molecular Biology & Evolution. Vol. 23:23-29. Worden A.Z. (2006) Picoeukaryote diversity in coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Aquatic Microbial Ecology. Vol. 43:165-175.
|