Brian Palenik
Marine Biology Research Division
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA 92093-0202
Ph 858-534-7505 Fax 858-534-7313
Email: bpalenik@ucsd.edu
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.
