Expression of Nucleus‐Encoded Genes for Chloroplast Proteins in the Flagellate <i>Euglena gracilis</i>

Abstract

Reverse transcription PCRs (RT-PCRs), real-time RT-PCRs and microarrays containing 50-mer oligonucleotides representing nucleus-encoded genes for chloroplast proteins from Euglena gracilis were used to compare light- and dark-grown wild-type mRNA levels to those of light- and dark-grown E. gracilis stable white mutant strains W(gm)ZOflL, W₃BUL and W₁₀BSmL. The analyses revealed no light-dependent regulation of mRNA levels. Moreover, the mRNA levels of most genes were unchanged in all white mutants in comparison with wild-type. These results suggest that mRNA levels of nucleus-encoded genes for chloroplast proteins in E. gracilis do not depend on either light or plastid function.