Microalgae (phytoplankton) fix carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and convert it into useful metabolites. Microalgae are primary carbon producers in the ecosystem and play an important role in ultimately enabling the circulation of carbon through the food chain. Considering these characteristics, we are interested in understanding how temporary/long-term changes in the environment affect the physiology of microalgae. Our research can help predict changes in the ecosystem centered on microalgae.
- Study of physiological characteristics of microalgae according to changes in temperature/salinity environment or nutritional conditions
- Study of adaptation mechanisms of microalgae to changes in temperature/salinity environment or nutritional conditions
- Study of strain improvement with high adaptability to extreme temperature/salinity conditions
* Image sources: Polar Literacy (https://polar-ice.org/) / Becker S. et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2020)
In addition, since microalgae occupy an important position in the evolutionary trajectory of photosynthetic eukaryotes (e.g., plastid evolution, multicellularity), studying microalgae can provide insight into the evolutionary process of organisms. In particular, knowledge obtained from microalgae, which are unicellular organisms, can be extended to multicellular organisms.
- Study of the function of carbon metabolism associated genes
- Study of the function of DYRKP1 protein kinase
* Image sources: Gentil J. et al., Protoplasma (2017) / de Vries J. et al., Trends in Plant Science (2016)
Kim Lab 