Immunogold localization of phycoerythrin in chloroplasts of Dinophysis acuminata and D. fortii (Dinophysiales, Dinophyta)

The toxic dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata harbors permanent chloroplasts of cryptomonad origin, not kleptochloroplasts

“…As mentioned earlier, all peridinin-containing chloroplasts as well as A. wigrense chloroplasts are lined by three membranes (Schnepf and Elbrä chter, 1999). In our case, only two membranes remain, suggesting even Vesk et al (1996) further transformation of these chloroplasts. The close proximity of the inner membrane to the incomplete one indicates that these represent the original pair of cyanobacterial membranes.…”

“…The determination of the origin of the chloroplast in particular was problematic. Ultrastructural Elbrä chter, 1988, 1999;Lucas and Vesk, 1990) and pigment analyses (Hallegraeff and Lucas, 1988;Geider and Gunter, 1989;Vesk et al, 1996;Hewes et al, 1998) carried out on wild samples suggested that the chloroplasts were of cryptomonad origin. The impossibility of culturing and the rare cryptomonad origin of chloroplasts in dinoflagellates led to the assumption that the chloroplasts might be kleptochloroplasts (Melkonian, 1996).…”

Pigment-based chloroplast types in dinoflagellates

“…The genus Dinophysis includes both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic (heterotrophic) species, and the former are known to possess cryptophytetype plastids that contain the phycobilin pigment phycoerythrin (Vesk et al 1996, Hewes et al 1998, Hackett et al 2003.…”

Growth characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the marine dinoflagellate Dinophysis infundibulus (Dinophyceae)

“…1A). Naturally occurring D. infundibulus cells showed a yellow-orange autofluorescence under blue light excitation, suggesting the presence of phycobilin (Lessard & Swift 1986, Hallegraeff & Lucas 1988, Schnepf & Elbrächter 1988, Geider & Gunter 1989, Imai & Nishitani 2000 and phycoerythrin (Geider & Gunter 1989, Vesk et al 1996, Hewes et al 1998. We succeeded in establishing 3 clonal cultures of 5 single isolates with the addition of the marine ciliate Myrionecta rubra and the cryptophyte Teleaulax amphioxeia as the prey species.…”