Characterization of two full-length cDNA sequences encoding for apoproteins of peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) complexes.

Characterizations are presented for RNA, 2 cDNA libraries, and 2 full-length cDNA sequences encoding for photosynthetic light-harvesting peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) in the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa pygmaea. Subsequent analyses of the PCP system also indicate that (1) it is represented by multiple nuclear encoded genes, (2) a subset of mRNAs encoding for PCP apoproteins are regulated by growth irradiance, (3) PCP preproteins are larger than the mature apoproteins, and (4) PCP cDNA clones sequenced thus far contain a conserved region but are not identical. Results are discussed in the context of photoadaptation in dinoflagellates.