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SUMMARY:Light sensing in the Ocean: new perspectives from the study of the
  diatom photoreceptors - Angela Falciatore\, CNRS Paris
DTSTART:20161208T130000Z
DTEND:20161208T140000Z
UID:TALK67639@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:38889
DESCRIPTION:The oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface\, and the photos
 ynthetic organisms living within the photic zone are responsible for aroun
 d one half of global primary productivity. In the contemporary ocean\, dia
 toms constitute a major component of the eukaryotic phytoplankton.  Respon
 sible for approximately 20% of global photosynthesis\, diatoms are found i
 n waters worldwide\, wherever there is sufficient light and nutrients. The
  recent availability of whole genome sequences from representative species
  revealed that diatom genomes are made up of a unique cocktail of genes ac
 quired during a complex evolutionary history\, being diatoms derived from 
 a secondary endosymbiosis between phototrophic and heterotrophic eukaryote
 s. These peculiar genomic features and metabolic pathways might help expla
 ining diatom extraordinary adaptation capacities to a wide range of habita
 ts.\n\nThe major object of our research is to characterize the mechanisms 
 controlling diatom responses to light\, one of the most important environm
 ental signals for life on Earth. As on land\, both irradiance and light qu
 ality change drastically in the different marine habitats\, with blue ligh
 t prevailing at increasing depths\, this providing peculiar environmental 
 condition for marine organisms. Diatoms display a suite of sophisticated r
 esponses (physiological\, biochemical\, and behavioural) to optimize their
  photosynthesis and growth under changing light conditions. However\, the 
 molecular mechanisms controlling diatom responses to light are still large
 ly unknown. By using novel genomic information and by establishing fundame
 ntal genetic resources in the model species Phaeodactylum tricornutum\, we
  are performing an extensive characterization of the light sensing mechani
 sms in diatoms. We found a plethora of blue light photoreceptors of the Cr
 yptochrome and Aureochrome families and\, surprisingly\, also photorecepto
 rs responding in red and far-red regions of the spectrum\, e.g.\, Phytochr
 ome (DPH). The biochemical and functional characterization of these photor
 eceptors is unveiling a diversification of light sensing and acclimation s
 trategies in diatoms\, raising novel hypotheses on the role of these prote
 ins in controlling growth and adaptive responses in the marine context. A 
 summary of our latest results will be presented.\n
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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