| The IXth International Congress on Photosynthesis organized by the International Photosynthesis Committee was held in Nagoya, Japan, on Angust 30 - September 4, 1992. It was stressed by the chairperson, N. Murata that since the Vlllth Congress, the rapid development of photosynthesis was particularly based on molecular biology. Of 918 abstracts submitted, 180 deal with algal studies, 59 of which were molecular genetic researches.
The unique light-harvesting structure, relatively simple genetic composition and the special status in plant evolution make algae ideal material for photosynthesis research. The significant progress over the last several years in algal photosynthesis research is mainly due to employment of molecular methods, such as gene cloning, sequencing, restriction enzyme analysis, complementary analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, transformation, etc. Algal molecular genetics is not only the leading branch of algal research now, but also one of the most active fields of photosynthesis research.
Our poster reported the isolation of allophycocyanin genes from Spirulina platensis and two other blue-green algal species using PCR amplification. These genes are now being sequenced for eluicidating evolutionary lines of photosynthesis molecules and will be used further as purpose gene for algal genetic manipulation. PCR techniques may offer new potential for isolation of genes of conservative photosynthetic molecules.
In the present paper, the author reviews algal molecular work presented at this congress, and attempts to reflect the trend of algal molecular genetic research, which in our view, is to serve both fundamental biology study and the needs of algal resource exploitation. |
