Dinoflagellate Molecular Biology and Mecanisms of Circadian Rhythms

沟鞭藻是海洋生态系统的重要组成部分：它们是全球初级生产（光合碳固定）的主要贡献者，是活珊瑚内的共生体，有些还形成有害（产生毒素）的藻华（HAB）。我们对这类生物知之甚少，更不知道它们将如何科普气候变化。此外，腰鞭毛虫是一个有用的系统，在其中研究昼夜（每日）节律的生物化学，因为它们的大多数行为和生理变化的日常周期。我们的主要研究目标是详细阐述生物钟用于控制节奏的机制目录，这最终可能有助于理解更复杂的人类生物钟系统。作为第二个目标，我们希望更广泛地了解甲藻中基因表达是如何调节的。

Dinoflagellates are an important part of the oceans ecosystem: they are major contributors to global primary production (photosynthetic carbon fixation) and are the symbionts inside living coral, and some form harmful (toxin-producing) algal blooms (HAB). We know very little about this class of organisms and even less about how they will cope with climate change. In addition, dinoflagellates are a useful system in which to study the biochemistry of circadian (daily) rhythms since most of their behavior and physiology varies over the daily cycle. Our MAIN RESEARCH GOAL is to elaborate a catalog of mechanisms used by circadian clocks to control rhythms, which may eventually help in understanding the more complex human circadian systems. As a SECONDARY GOAL, we want to understand in more general terms how gene expression is regulated in the dinoflagellates.