Emiliania huxleyi (E. huxleyi) is a unicelllular alga that is distinguished by its
exquisitely sculptured calcium carbonate cell coverings known as coccoliths. E. huxleyi is found throughout
the world’s oceans and forms extensive blooms sometimes greater than 100,000 square kilometers with cell densities up to 10,000 cells ml-1 (Holligan et al., 1993; Brown and Yoder,
1994). It is also considered to the world’s major producer of calcite (Westbroek et al., 1985). Because
of its relative abundance, widespread distribution, and its ability to fix carbon into both organic and biominerialized product, E. huxleyi has attracted the attention of researcher scientists interested in global carbon cycling. E. huxleyi has also been targeted by material scientists who are interested in the biomineralized skeletons for applications relating to
biomedical products, lightweight ceramics, catalyst supports, and robust membranes for high temperature separation technologies (x). While a general
understanding of some of the ecophysiological aspects of calcification and coccolithogenesis in E. huxleyi has been obtained, little is known about
molecular mechanisms of biomineralization and coccolithogenesis in E. huxleyi, and/or about the complex life cycle of this important alga. Hence, the
focus of my laboratory. Current projects in the laboratory involve:
- creating a genetic system for E. huxleyi
- identifying genes and proteins involved in biominerialization and coccolithogenesis
- identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in E. huxleyi phase variation
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- Molecular Cell
- Excercise Physiology and Biochemistry
- Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
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