SGER: Construction of a Whole Genome Micro-Array for the Marine Cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus

原绿球藻是一种海洋蓝藻，是海洋中的优势光合细菌，占海洋初级生产力的50%。 美国能源部联合基因组研究所最近完成了两个原绿球藻分离株的全基因组序列。 本研究将开发完整的基因组微阵列来研究这些分离株的基因表达。 这项技术不仅有助于识别这些生物体中许多在序列数据库中没有同源物的未识别基因，而且还将为推动这一群体生态位多样化的环境变量提供见解。原绿球藻由于存在多种生态型而茁壮成长，每种生态型都略微特化，以便在略微不同的环境条件下最佳地茁壮成长。 在此项目取得成功之前，将进行一项全面的研究，将该阵列应用于这种生物的进化和生态学。 该阵列也将提供给其他人。

Prochlorococcus, a marine cyanobacterium, is a dominant phototroph in the world's oceans which contribute up to 50% of oceanic primary productivity. The complete genome sequences of two Prochlorococcus isolates have recently been completed by the Joint Genome Institute of the DOE. This study will develop complete genome microarrays to study gene expression in these isolates. This technology will not only help to identify the numerous unidentified genes in these organisms that have no homologues in sequence databases, but they will also provide insights into the environmental variables that have driven niche diversification in this group. Prochlorococcus thrives due to the existence of multiple ecotypes, each slightly specialized to thrive optimally under a slightly different set of environmental conditions. Pending the success of this project, a full-blown study will be conducted applying this array to the evolution and ecology of this organism. The array will also be made available to others.