Dinoflagellate Molecular Biology and Mecanisms of Circadian Rhythms

鞭毛藻是海洋生态系统的重要组成部分：它们是全球初级生产（光合固碳）的主要贡献者，是活珊瑚内的共生体，有些还会形成有害的（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应对气候变化。此外，鞭毛藻是研究昼夜节律生物化学的一个有用系统，因为它们的大多数行为和生理在日常周期中变化。我们的主要研究目标是详细阐述生物钟控制节奏的机制目录，这可能最终有助于理解更复杂的人类昼夜节律系统。作为次要目标，我们想要更一般地理解在鞭毛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.