Authors:

Betsy Biju Varghese

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About Paper:

Photosymbiotic relationships, or symbiotic relationships between heterotrophs and photoautotrophs, are common in ecosystems and have significantly impacted evolutionary paths. One such symbiotic relationship is between the ciliate host Paramecium bursaria and its intracellular green algae, Chlorella. This research aims to use these organisms as a model to study the dynamics of resource allocation in symbiotic relationships via proteome analysis. Preliminary findings indicate that symbiotic P. bursaria has larger yields than its aposymbiotic relatives, suggesting that photosymbiosis, despite its benefits, comes with inherent costs. This study specifically aims to identify the key Chlorella genes important for the symbiotic relationship by comparing the proteome data of symbiotic versus aposymbiotic Paramecium bursaria. Candidate genes identified from this comparison will be genetically manipulated to create transformed Chlorella, which will then be used to re- initiate symbiosis with aposymbiotic Paramecium bursaria. By analyzing the characteristics of these newly established symbiotic entities, the research seeks to confirm the practical roles of these genes in the symbiotic relationship. In conclusion, this research will elucidate important ecological and physiological mechanisms that shape symbiotic connections and pinpoint the genes that have the most significant impacts on symbiotic relationships through targeted genetic transformations, thereby advancing ecological and evolutionary research. Keywords: Photosymbiont; Paramecium Bursaria; Symbiotic Chlorella; Proteomics; Transformation

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

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Co-authors:

Betsy Biju Varghese