CHLOROPLAST SMALL-SUBUNIT RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE SEQUENCE FROM CHLAMYDOMONAS-PARKEAE (CHLOROPHYTA) - MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF A GREEN-ALGA WITH APECULIAR PIGMENT COMPOSITION

The unicellular marine flagellate Chlamydomonas parkeae (Chlorophyta) is reported to have a peculiar pigment composition which is similar to that of the prasinophycean algae. We studied the phylogeny of this sp ecies on the basis of DNA sequence data The chloroplast small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene of C. parkeae was amplified by polymerase chain rea ction, sequenced, and compared with those of typical volvocalean algae and the prasinophycean alga Pyramimomas parkeae. The phylogenetic tre e inferred from the sequence data indicated that C. parkeae is solidly placed within the typical volvocalean lineage as a sister to C. moewu sii, being more distant from the higher plants, their closest relative s and P. parkeae. It is considered, therefore, that the pigment compos ition data for C. parkeae does not reflect the phylogenetic position o f this species within the Chlorophyta.