Dr Brian Palenik
Professor of Marine Biology
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA 92093-0202 USA
Phone: 858-534 7505
Fax: 858-534 7313
Email: bpalenik@ucsd.edu
Street Address: 8750 Biological Grade, 3140 Hubbs Hall, La Jolla, CA 92037

Palenik Lab

Our lab uses molecular and biochemical approaches to characterize the response of photosynthetic microorganisms such as diatoms and cyanobacteria to changes in their environment, such as how they respond to toxic copper levels or how they respond to nutrient depletion. We are developing biomarkers for these responses (unique proteins induced by a particular physiological stress) and examining environmental samples for these biomarkers. Since physiological stresses may affect the biodiversity of photosynthetic microorganisms in marine environments, we are also characterizing this diversity using molecular approaches such as sequence data from the gene for RNA polymerase. We have found that different cyanobacterial genotypes occupy specific niches in marine waters. We are currently using whole genome approaches to understand the processes of adaptation and diversification in marine photosynthetic microorganisms.


EM of Thalassiosira pseudonana
Photo: Brian Palenik