Prochloron
| Prochloron | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Division: | Cyanobacteria |
| Order: | Prochlorales |
| Family: | Prochloraceae |
| Genus: | Prochloron |
Prochloron (from the Greek pro (before) and the Greek chloros (green) ) is a unicellular oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryote commonly found as symbionts in coral reefs, particularly in didemnid ascidians (sea squirts). Part of the phylum cyanobacteria, it was theorized (endosymbiotic theory) that prochloron is a predecessor of the photosynthetic components found in eukaryotic cells. However this theory is largely refuted by phylogenetic studies which indicate Prochloron is not on the same line of descent that lead to chlorplast containing plants.
Prochloron was discovered in 1975 by Ralph A. Lewin of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Prochloron is one of three known prochlorophytes, cyanobacteria that contain both chlorophyll a and b as light-harvesting pigments.
[edit] Species
The only taxonomically valid species is P. didemni.
[edit] References
- Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Prochloron". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=46077. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
- Waterbury, John, et al. Little Things Matter A Lot. Oceanus Magazine. 2004, 43(2).
- Yellowlees, David, et al. Metabolic interactions between algal symbionts and invertebrate hosts. Plant, Cell and Environment. 2008, 31, pp.679-694.
