Chloroplast biology and coral bleaching

The chloroplast genome, a remnant of the endosymbiotic evolution of chloroplasts from photosynthetic bacteria, has long intrigued the scientific community. Recently, the chloroplast genomes of dinoflagellates have gained heightened interest due to their important ecological role and as symbionts inside coral animals. These dinoflagellates provide essential photosynthate to corals, but under certain conditions, the symbiosis deteriorates, leading to coral bleaching.

A significant challenge in this research has been the lack of a reliable transformation system for dinoflagellates. The project developed a system using minicircles as shuttle vectors, facilitating transformative studies on dinoflagellate photosynthesis. This advancement opens up opportunities to better understand the processes underlying coral bleaching and explore potential solutions to mitigate it.