The Molecular Evolution of Prokaryotic DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases: Research Fellowship in Marine Biotechnology

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DNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a multi-subunit enzyme critical to the existence of most organisms and of ancient origin. These properties make it an ideal candidate for a molecular chronometer, both to corroborate 16S rRNA data, and to extend the analysis of evolutionary diversification. n this fellowship research, Dr. Palenik will use antibodies to and oligonucleotide primers developed from Anabaena and E. coli polymerases to study the polymerase subunit structure and sequence of "older" eubacteria (16S rRNA estimate) such as Chloroflexus, and various cyanobacteria, prochlorophytes, and chloroplasts. Analysis of the sequence data obtained will provide new insights into the evolutionary development of photosynthetic organisms. The work will also likely result in the use of RNA polymerase sequences to analyze phytoplankton species diversity in aquatic environments.