%0 Journal Article
%T Introduction of a novel 18S rDNA gene arrangement along with distinct ITS region in the saline water microalga Dunaliella
%A Mohammad A Hejazi
%A Abolfazl Barzegari
%A Nahid Gharajeh
%A Mohammad S Hejazi
%J Aquatic Biosystems
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1746-1448-6-4
%X Dunaliella is an unicellular halotolerant microalga with a great potential as transgenic bioreactor [1], and more significantly, food source and pharmaceuticals due to its ability to accumulate large amounts of carotenoids [2]. Isolation and identification of novel species and strains from natural habitats is the main purpose in the path of obtaining superior productive strains. On one hand due to environmental adaptation and lacking of a cell wall, a certain Dunaliella isolate may exhibit different morphological and physiological behaviour in different conditions [3]. On the other hand, wide geographic distribution of saline systems and required distinctive adaptations to these environments lead to extensive diversity of the organisms living in these systems [4]. In addition, slight molecular-based phylogenetic differences of Dunaliella species can reveal deep distinction in production of metabolites such as carotenoids [5]. Hence, molecular characterization provides an important tool for exploring biodiversity of Dunaliella and better understanding of its taxonomy.Identification and classification of the organisms based on conserved and variable regions of 16S or 18S rDNA is a common procedure in taxonomy studies [6]. 18S rDNA gene has been used for molecular identification of different species of Dunaliella as eukaryotic microorganism [7-9]. Besides using intron sizing method, particular 18S rDNA fingerprint profiles were reported as an indicator for hyperproducer species [10]. Ribosomal spacer sequences, including ITS regions have been also frequently utilized for discrimination of genetic variation in green algae [11-15]. Sequence comparison of the ITS region was utilized to predict genetic relatedness and to study phylogeny and taxonomy of Dunaliella [5,15].18S rDNA gene in Dunaliella genus contains relatively conserved region of exon(s) and variable region of intron(s). It is worth nothing that some species don't have any intron. Wilcox et al. (1992) declared
%U http://www.aquaticbiosystems.org/content/6/1/4