Date of Award
2006
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Kerr, Russell G.
Abstract
The overall goal of this research was to isolate key genes involved in the diterpene biosynthesis from Euniceafusca and Erythropodium caribaeorum using molecular biology techniques. The initial goal was to use fuscol induced cell cultures of Symbiodinium sp. isolated from E. fusca and to develop an approach based on differential display of mRNA-reverse transcription-PeR. Together with inverse PCR, these techniques ultimately provided a full-length farnesyl diphosphate synthase sequence. Functional expression of this enzyme was demonstrated with the addition of appropriate substrates and confirmed by chromatography. From this data, degenerate primer based PCR was used to isolate putative geranylgeranyl diphosphate biosynthetic genes from E. caribaeorum. Both chemical and genetic examinations of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae eggs and their associated Symbiodinium sp. were employed to identify the biosynthetic origin of their diterpenes. Terpene content and biosynthetic capabilities of azooxanthellae eggs demonstrated the presence of pseudopterosins but also indicated that the eggs were not capable of producing these compounds. Likewise, no correlation could be observed for the phylogenetic relationships inferred for the Symbiodinium sp., with that of the terpene chemistry present in P. elisabethae. This finding leads us to speculate about an additional source of terpene production within this coral. Based on these and other recent findings suggesting symbiotic bacteria as the source of secondary metabolites from marine invertebrates, bacterial assemblages from E. caribaeorum were examined. This study revealed considerable phylogenetic bacterial diversity within this coral and the identification of several bacteria known to produce terpenes in other organisms.
Extent
139 p.
Recommended Citation
Ranzer, Llanie Karen, "Exploration of Methods to Identify Biosynthetic Genes and the Origin of Biosynthesis in Marine Octocorals" (2006). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2000 - 2009. 1058.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_5/1058
Identifier
FA00000874
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|Includes bibliography.