Red Algae in the Genomic Age

by Seckbach, Joseph; Chapman, David J.

• ISBN13: 9789048137947
• ISBN10: 9048137942
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-08-30
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

This volume covers the modern biology and the speciation of the red algae (Rhodophyta) from unicellular Cyanidia up to macrocellular sea weeds. A team of peer reviewers has reviewed all chapters. The chapters describe a range of topics from cave algae from Atacama, Chile, to genomes of red algae. Some chapters deal with the carbohydrates, physiological mechanisms, and realtionship between red algae and neurodegenerative disease. Other chapters deal with organellar - nuclear genes and taxonomic revision. Emphasis is placed upon the rhodophytan chloroplast, its origin, evolution, division machinery and pigmentation. The reader will find in this book lots of new information on the red algae.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Red Algae in Genomic Age	p. xi
Foreword	p. xv
Acknowledgements	p. xix
List of Authors and Their Addresses	p. xxi
Origin and Evolution
The Chloroplast Division Machinery: Origin and Evolution	p. 3
Evolutionary History and Taxonomy of Red Algae	p. 25
General Studies of Rhodophyta
Invasive and Alien Rhodophyta in the Mediterranean and along the Israeli Shores	p. 45
The Extreme Environments of Porphyra, a Fast Growing and Edible Red Marine Macroalga	p. 61
Investigations on Reproductive Affinities in Red Algae	p. 77
Taxonomic Revisions of Freshwater Rhodophyta in Recent Years	p. 111
Genomic Studies and Biotechnology
Porphyra: Complex Life Histories in a Harsh Environment: P. umbilicalis, an Intertidal Red Alga for Genomic Analysis	p. 129
Utilizing Red Algae to Understand a Neurodegenerative Disease	p. 149
Coordination of Nuclear and Plastid Gene Expression in Red Algae and Green Plants	p. 171
Plastid Evolution and the Nuclear Genomic "Footprint" of Red and Green Algal Endosymbionts	p. 191
Red Microalgae: From Basic Know-How to Biotechnology	p. 205
Red Algal Genomics: A Synopsis	p. 227
Bangiophytes: From One Class to Six; Where Do We Go from Here?	p. 241
Genomic Contributions to Understanding the Evolution of Red Algal Plastids and Pigment Biosynthesis	p. 261
How Have Genome Studies Improved Our Understanding of Organelle Evolution and Metabolism in Red Algae?	p. 275
Computational Gene Prediction in Eukaryotic Genomes	p. 291
Developments in Biotechnology of Red Algae	p. 307
Cyanidia
Overview on Cyanidian Biology	p. 345
The Cyanidiales: Ecology, Biodiversity, and Biogeography	p. 357
Mechanisms of Acido-Tolerance and Characteristics of Photosystems in an Acidophilic and Thermophilic Red Alga, Cyanidium Caldarium	p. 373
Redox-Modification of Chloroplast Enzymes in Galdieria Sulphuraria: Trial-and-Error in Evolution or Perfect Adaptation to Extreme Conditions?	p. 391
The Thermo-Acidophilic Cyanidiophyceae (Cyanidiales)	p. 409
Chilean Cave Cyanidium	p. 427
Biochemistry and Physiology
Low Molecular Weight Carbohydrates in Red Algae - an Ecophysiological and Biochemical Perspective	p. 443
Red Algal Defenses in the Genomics Age	p. 457
Conclusion and Summary
Summary, Final Comments and Conclusions	p. 481
Organism Index	p. 485
Subject Index	p. 487
Author Index	p. 496
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