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| Michio Hidaka | |
| Professor | |
| Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science | |
| University of the Ryukyus | |
| Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan | |
| Tel: +81-98-895-8547 Fax: +81-98-895-8576 | |
| E-mail: hidaka@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp |
7,236,000 Yen
(FY 1999: 2,291,000 Yen)
The objective of this study is to investigate genetic diversity and species diversity of hermatypic corals and their intracellular symbionts, zooxanthellae. We analyzed internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rRNA gene of corals and zooxanthellae. The length of ITS region was different among species of corals studied. ITS region was useful for phylogenetic study of corals at least at generic level. ITS 1 sequences of zooxanthellae, however, did not have enough information: most sequences formed an unresolved cluster. SSCP studies of LSUrRNA gene showed that a coral colony contained zooxanthellae of 2-3 genotypes and that genotypic composition of zooxanthellae might be influenced by light condition. An active form mariner with a complete open reading frame (ORF) for transposase was found in Fungia sp. The mariner-like sequence was very similar to the mariner found in the Emperor moth (Yonaguni -san).
Coral, Zooxanthella, Symbiosis, Genetic diversity, Transposon