INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION IN THE DINOFLAGELLATE GAMBIERDIZSCUS TOXICUS (DINOPHYCEAE). I. ISOZYME ANALYSIS |
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| Authors: | Mireille Chinain Michel Germain Yoshihiko Sako Serge Pauillac Anne-Marie Legrand |
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| Affiliation: | Institut Territorial de Recherches Médicales Louis Malardé, B.P. 30, Papeete Tahiti, Polynésie Française;Laboratory of Marine Microbiology, Department of Applied Bioscience, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606, Japan;Institut Territorial de Recherches Médicales Louis Malardé, B.P. 30, Papeete Tahiti, Polynésie Française |
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| Abstract: | Intraspecific variation among 19 isolates of the ciguatera-causing dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus Adachi & Fukuyo (Dinophyceae) collected from French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and the French West Indies was investigated by isozyme analysis. Comparison of their cell sizes and growth rates revealed that significant variation exists among these clones. Comparison of electrophoretic patterns for seven enzyme systems indicated that G. toxicus is comprised of numerous biochemically distinct strains. Isolates from Tubuai and Hao appeared to be the most distantly related. Tahitian strains of G. toxicus also showed a remarkably low degree of similarity with the Tubuai isolates. The latter, which were taken from the same locale in Tubuai, also exhibited highly heterogeneous electrophoretic Profiles when compared to each other, suggesting a multiclonal origin. The single isolate analyzed from the Atlantic Ocean was most closely related to Tahitian isolates, despite their geographic separation. Finally, no clear relationship was found between the electrophoretic profiles of these isolates and their capacity to produce ciguatoxic compounds . |
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| Keywords: | ciguatera Gambierdiscus toxicus genetic variation isozyme electrophoresis population analysis Pyrrophyta toxicity |
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