Codon adaptation is codon usage bias that results from selective pressure to increase the translation efficiency of a gene. Codon adaptation has been studied across a wide range of genomes and some early analyses of plastids have shown evidence for codon adaptation in a limited set of highly expressed plastid genes. Here we study codon usage bias across all fully sequenced plastid genomes which...

As mammals are unable to synthesize essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), these compounds need to be taken in through diet. Nowadays, obtaining essential PUFA in diet is becoming increasingly difficult; therefore this work investigated the suitability of using macroalgae as novel dietary sources of PUFA. Hence, 17 macroalgal species from three different phyla (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta an...

Copper complexation in marine systems is mainly controlled by organic matter, partially produced by micro- and macroalgae that release exudates with the capacity to bind metals. This feature is important as it influences bioavailability, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and transport of copper through biological membranes. The release of Cu-complexing ligands by seaweeds cultured under copper excess ...

Seaweeds are plants found in sea that have tremendous applications the fields of agriculture and environment. It comprises three giant classes with a large number different species. their ability to adopt various conditions qualifies them more applicable environmental agricultural arena. Agriculturally, both Phaeophyta, Rhodophyta Chlorophyta, significant roles promoting plant growth productivi...

An electrometric system for determination of carbonic anhydrase activity was constructed. Enzyme activity was assayed in homogenates of marine macroscopic Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Phaeophyta. Plants surveyed included Ulva expansa (Setchell) Setchell and Gardner, Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot, Enteromorpha sp., Chaetomorpha torta (Farlow) McClatchie (Chlorophyta); Laurencia papillosa (Gre...

Glycolate oxidase (GOX) is a crucial enzyme of plant photorespiration. The encoding gene is thought to have originated from endosymbiotic gene transfer between the eukaryotic host and the cyanobacterial endosymbiont at the base of plantae. However, animals also possess GOX activities. Plant and animal GOX belong to the gene family of (L)-2-hydroxyacid-oxidases ((L)-2-HAOX). We find that all (L)...

Picoeukaryotes (cells of <3 micro m in diameter) contribute significantly to marine plankton biomass and productivity, and recently molecular studies have brought to light their wide diversity. Among the methods that have been used so far to quantify aquatic microorganisms, fluorescence in situ hybridization of oligonucleotide probes combined with flow cytometry offers the advantages of both hi...

Photoinhibition of macroalgae in the epilithic algal community (EAC) of coral reefs was studied using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques at One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. F jFm (variable to maximum fluorescence darkened samples) of shallow macroalgae declined by 50% on fine summer and winte~ days, reco.vering i~ late afternoon. Within a species, thalh from low-hght habItats we...

Green plants appear to comprise two sister lineages, Chlorophyta (classes Chlorophyceae, Ulvophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, and Prasinophyceae) and Streptophyta (Charophyceae and Embryophyta, or land plants). To gain insight into the nature of the ancestral green plant mitochondrial genome, we have sequenced the mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) of Nephroselmis olivacea and Pedinomonas minor. These two g...