Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding the precursor of the peridinin-chlorophyll a-binding protein from the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp.

mRNA from the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. isolated from the staghorn coral Acropora formosa was used for the construction of cDNA libraries. A cDNA clone was identified which encoded the precursor of peridinin-chlorophyll a-binding protein (PCP), including a 52 amino acid transit peptide and the 313 amino acid mature protein. The deduced amino acid sequence clearly contains an internal duplication, implying that amongst dinoflagellates the M_r 35 000 form of PCP has arisen by duplication and fusion of genes encoding the M_r 15 000 form. This is the first reported sequence of a dinoflagellate light-harvesting protein. The anatomy of the mature protein and the transit peptide are discussed.Abbreviations PCP peridinin-chlorophyll a-binding protein; cab, chlorophyll a/b-binding protein - LHC light-harvesting complex - FCP fucoxanthin-chlorophyll a/c-binding protein