title: Phylogenetic analysis of Perkinsus based on actin gene sequences.
abstract: Perkinsus species presently are classified within the phylum Apicomplexa. This placement, however, is controversial. Based upon morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, it has been suggested that Perkinsus may be more closely related to dinoflagellates. To reevaluate the phylogenetic position of Perkinsus, we obtained nucleotide sequence data for actin genes from Perkinsus marinus and 2 dinoflagellates, Prorocentrum minimum and Amphidinium carterae. Results indicated that there are 2 closely related actin genes in the genome of P. marinus. Phylogenetic comparisons of these actin gene fragments of P. marinus to available actin gene sequences for several ciliates and apicomplexans and to the 2 actin gene sequences from dinoflagellates obtained in this study supported a closer affinity of P. marinus to dinoflagellates than to apicomplexans.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Siddall
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Burreson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Graves
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012758:Shellfish
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan