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<b><span style="font-size:38.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#FFB81B">Institute of Integrative Genome Biology Seminar</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:20.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#003CA5">You are cordially invited to attend:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:25.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Tingting Xiang<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:25.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">UCR, Bioengineering<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:20.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#003CA5"><img width="329" height="329" style="width:3.425in;height:3.425in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DB2390.A9D2F840"></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:22.0pt;color:#003399">Using Symbiodiniaceae mutants to interrogate dinoflagellate-coral symbiosis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Date: Friday, October 25th<o:p></o:p></p>
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Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm<o:p></o:p></p>
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Location: Genomics Auditorium 1102A<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN">Abstract: </span></b><span lang="EN">The dinoflagellate algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae form critical symbiotic relationships with a variety of cnidarian hosts, including corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish. Residing
within the gastrodermal tissue of their hosts, these algae provide photosynthetically fixed carbon, while the hosts supply essential inorganic nutrients and offer protection from environmental threats. This metabolic exchange is fundamental to the survival
of coral reefs, yet the molecular and cellular processes that underpin the establishment and maintenance of this symbiosis remain largely unknown. Our lab focuses on unraveling these processes by developing a mutagenesis pipeline for Symbiodiniaceae, enabling
the creation of mutants to serve as key tools for probing the mechanisms governing symbiosis. Using these mutants, we are addressing critical questions regarding the initiation and stability of the symbiotic relationship. For example, we generated photosynthesis
mutants (<i>LBR1</i> and <i>ORA1</i>) and demonstrated that photosynthetic activity is not required for symbiosis initiation, challenging a long-held paradigm in the field of coral-algal symbiosis. Building on this work, our recent research has focused on
the biosynthesis of chlorophyll <i>c</i>, a key photosynthetic pigment in dinoflagellates, and the identification of CHLOROPHYLL C SYNTHASE (CHLCS), the enzyme responsible for its production. We successfully expressed CHLCS
<i>in planta</i>, providing insights into both the evolution of photosynthetic machinery and the potential for bioengineering applications. These findings offer new perspectives on the molecular underpinnings of coral-algal symbiosis and could inform strategies
to protect coral reefs and sustain marine biodiversity amid global climate change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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