The molecular mechanism of indoleamine-induced encystment in dinoflagellates

This thesis aims to elucidate the molecular mechanism of indoleamine-induced encystment in dinoflagellates. Indoleamines such as melatonin and 5-methoxytryptamine (5MT) dose- and time-dependently induced encystment in many species of dinoflagellates. Such responses are reversible and ligand-selective. Together, partial sequence homologous to the third intracellular loop of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) was cloned, suggesting the presence of GPCRs in dinoflagellates. The involvement of G protein activation in encystment is suggested by the observation that mastoparan induced transient encystment. Immunodetection of G...