My research is focused on molecular ecology of marine phytoplankton and heterotrophic dinoflagellates. Current research projects, mainly funded by NSF (Systematic Biology, Ocean Science, ATOL-Assembly of Tree of Life, and Microbial Genome Sequencing Program), NOAA (ECOHAB), EPA, and Sea Grant, can be summarized as: 1) molecular markers for growth rate and ecological adaptation; 2) molecular genetics and evolution of dinoflagellates; 3) molecular markers to study harmful alga dispersal and population dynamics; and 4) biodiversity of picodinoflagellates and other picoplankton

For example, adopting the concept of measuring expression of cell cycle genes to assess growth of cancer, we try to develop similar molecular markers for studies on phytoplankton growth rate. Cell cycle genes and proteins (e.g. PCNA, P34cdc2, cyclin B, MAPK, 14-3-3) are identified, and DNA probes or antibodies are developed for measurement of gene expression by RT-qPCR or whole cell immunofluorescence. Currently, we are studying Alexadrium, Karlodinium, Prorocentrum, and Pfiesteria using state-of-the-art technologies such as microarray and real-time RT-qPCR.

Zhang, H., Hou, Y., Miranda, L., Campbell, D. A., Sturm, N. R., Gaasterland, T. and Lin, S. 2007. Spliced leader RNA trans-splicing in dinoflagellates. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 4618-4623.

Lin, S., Zhang, H., Hou, Y., Miranda, L. and Bhattacharya, D. 2006. Development of a dinoflagellate-oriented PCR primer set leads to the detection of picoplanktonic dinoflagellates from Long Island Sound. Appl. Environ. Micribiol. 72: 5626-5630.

Lin, S., Zhang, H. and Dubois, A. 2006. Low abundance distribution and of Pfiesteria piscicida in Pacific and Western Atlantic as detected by mtDNA-18S rDNA Real-Time PCR. J. Plankton Res. 28: 667-681.

Zhang, H., Hou, Y. and Lin, S. 2006. Isolation and characterization of PCNA from the dinoflagellate Pfiesteria piscicida. J. Euk. Microbiol. 53: 142-150.

Lin, S., Zhang, H. and Jiao, N. 2006. Potential utility of mitochondrial cytochrome b and its mRNA editing in resolving closely related dinoflagellates: a case study of Prorocentrum (Dinophyceae). J. Phycol. 42: 646-654.

Lin, S. 2006. The Smallest dinoflagellate genome is yet to be found: A comment on LaJeunesse et al. “Symbiodinium (Pyrrhophyta) genome sizes (DNA content) are smallest among dinoflagellates” J. Phycol. 42: 746-748.

Zhang, H. Bhattacharya, D. and Lin, S. 2005. Phylogeny of Dinoflagellates Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b and Nuclear Small Subunit rDNA Sequence Comparisons. J. Phycol. 41: 411-420.

Lin, S., Mulholland, M. R., Zhang, H., Feinstein, T. N., Jochem, F. J., and Carpenter, E. J. 2004. Intense grazing and prey-dependent growth of Pfiesteria piscicida (Dinophyceae). J. Phycol. 40: 1062-1073.

McManus, G., Zhang, H. and Lin, S. 2004. The marine planktonic ciliates that prey on macroalgae and enslave their chloroplasts. Limnol. Oceanogr. 49: 308-313.

Lin, S. and Zhang, H. 2003. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in Pfiesteria piscicida and its growth rate-related expression. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 343-349.

Lin, S., Zhang, H., Spencer, D., Norman, J. and Gray, M. W. 2002. Widespread and extensive editing of mitochondrial mRNAs in dinoflagellates. J. Mol. Biol. 320:727-739.

Lin, S. and Corstjens, P. L. A. M. 2002. Molecular cloning and expression of the Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen gene from the coccolithorid Pleurochrysis carterae (Haptophyceae). J. Phycol. 38: 164-173.

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