Hyperdiversity of Genes Encoding Integral Light-Harvesting Proteins in the Dinoflagellate <em>Symbiodinium</em> sp

<div><p>The superfamily of light-harvesting complex (LHC) proteins is comprised of proteins with diverse functions in light-harvesting and photoprotection. LHC proteins bind chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids and include a family of LHCs that bind Chl <em>a</em> and <em>c</em>. Dinophytes (dinoflagellates) are predominantly Chl <em>c</em> binding algal taxa, bind peridinin or fucoxanthin as the primary carotenoid, and can possess a number of LHC subfamilies. Here we report 11 LHC sequences for the chlorophyll <em>a</em>-chlorophyll <em>c</em>₂-peridinin protein complex (acpPC) subfamily isolated from <em>Symbiodinium</em> sp. C3, an ecologically important peridinin binding dinoflagellate taxa. Phylogenetic analysis of these proteins suggests the acpPC subfamily forms at least three clades within the Chl <em>a/c</em> binding LHC family; Clade 1 clusters with rhodophyte, cryptophyte and peridinin binding dinoflagellate sequences, Clade 2 with peridinin binding dinoflagellate sequences only and Clades 3 with heterokontophytes, fucoxanthin and peridinin binding dinoflagellate sequences.</p>