TÍTULO: Assessingdiversification of dinoflagellates using comparative genomics
PALESTRANTE: Dr Cheong Xin (CX)Chan, The University ofQueensland, Australia
DATA: 27.09
HORÁRIO: 11h
LOCAL: AG da Botânica, IB/USP - Rua do Matão 277

"Abstract:
Dinoflagellates are diverse, ecologically important phytoplankton in marine and freshwater environments. Most of these organisms are free-living (some bloom-forming), but those of the Symbiodiniaceae family diversified largely as the symbiotic lineage. Symbiodiniaceae represent critical symbionts to diverse coral and coral reef animals including jellyfish and clams. To assess the molecular mechanisms that underpin the diversification and adaptation of these species to changing environments, including the transition between free-living and symbiotic lifestyles, we generated de novo genome assemblies from 10 isolates of Symbiodiniaceae and 2 from their free-living relative, Polarella glacialis. Our results so far revealed unique genome signatures in dinoflagellates that underpin their diversification, including the expansion of repetitive elements, coding of single-exon genes in tandem repeats, and the unidirectional coding of genes. In this talk, I will present our recent work on comparative genomics of the basal symbiodiniacean lineage (Symbiodinium), focusing on free-living versus symbiotic species. Combined with our results from the analysis of Polarella genomes, our findings provide novel insights into how dinoflagellate genomes may enhance the transcriptional efficiency of critical genes as a mechanism of environmental adaption and niche specialisation.

Biodata:
Dr Cheong Xin Chan is a Senior Research Officer and Affiliate Lecturer at the University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia. Chan has a PhD in Genomics and Computational Biology from UQ. Since 2008, Chan has been using advanced computational, database and genomic approaches to study genome evolution of microbes, including bacteria, algae and protists, and to develop highly scalable phylogenomic approaches. His research routinely involves de novo assembly and analysis of high-throughput sequencing data. Chan was one of three inaugural Great Barrier Reef Foundation Bioinformatics Fellows (2013-16) when he embarked on genome research of the coral symbionts (dinoflagellates of family Symbiodiniaceae). Chan now leads the world’s largest concentrated effort in the genome-sequencing of dinoflagellates. He is a Chief Investigator in three projects funded by the Australian Research Council in the areas of dinoflagellate genomics and evolution."