Cloning and analysis of phycoerythrin genes inGracilaria Lemaneiformis (Rhodophyceae)

Cloning and sequencing of the genes coding for the α- and β- subunit of phycoerythrin (PE) of a red alga—Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL) are reported. Alignment of 1084 nucleotides sequenced with three known red algal PE genes,Rhodella violacea (RV),Polysiphonia boldii (PB) andAglaothamnion neglectum (AN), showed high level of conservation, and similarities of 77,6% (between GL and RV), 77.9% (GL and AN) and 79.0% (GL and PB). The similarities of amino acids were 84.8% (between GL and RV), 85.7% (GL and PB), and 80.6% (AN and GL), higher than those among nucleotides. Project 39670405 supported by NSFC and Japanese Science Promotion Society (JSPS).