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Kalvelage J, Rabus R. Multifaceted Dinoflagellates and the Marine Model Prorocentrum cordatum. Microb Physiol 2024; 34:197-242. [PMID: 39047710 DOI: 10.1159/000540520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dinoflagellates are a monophyletic group within the taxon Alveolata, which comprises unicellular eukaryotes. Dinoflagellates have long been studied for their organismic and morphologic diversity as well as striking cellular features. They have a main size range of 10-100 µm, a complex "cell covering", exceptionally large genomes (∼1-250 Gbp with a mean of 50,000 protein-encoding genes) spread over a variable number of highly condensed chromosomes, and perform a closed mitosis with extranuclear spindles (dinomitosis). Photosynthetic, marine, and free-living Prorocentrum cordatum is a ubiquitously occurring, bloom-forming dinoflagellate, and an emerging model system, particularly with respect to systems biology. SUMMARY Focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) analysis of P. cordatum recently revealed (i) a flattened nucleus with unusual structural features and a total of 62 tightly packed chromosomes, (ii) a single, barrel-shaped chloroplast devoid of grana and harboring multiple starch granules, (iii) a single, highly reticular mitochondrion, and (iv) multiple phosphate and lipid storage bodies. Comprehensive proteomics of subcellular fractions suggested (i) major basic nuclear proteins to participate in chromosome condensation, (ii) composition of nuclear pores to differ from standard knowledge, (iii) photosystems I and II, chloroplast complex I, and chlorophyll a-b binding light-harvesting complex to form a large megacomplex (>1.5 MDa), and (iv) an extraordinary richness in pigment-binding proteins. Systems biology-level investigation of heat stress response demonstrated a concerted down-regulation of CO2-concentrating mechanisms, CO2-fixation, central metabolism, and monomer biosynthesis, which agrees with reduced growth yields. KEY MESSAGES FIB/SEM analysis revealed new insights into the remarkable subcellular architecture of P. cordatum, complemented by proteogenomic unraveling of novel nuclear structures and a photosynthetic megacomplex. These recent findings are put in the wider context of current understanding of dinoflagellates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Kalvelage
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), School of Mathematics and Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Rabus
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), School of Mathematics and Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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2
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Yon T, Réveillon D, Sibat M, Holland C, Litaker RW, Nascimento SM, Rossignoli AE, Riobó P, Hess P, Bertrand S. Targeted and non-targeted mass spectrometry to explore the chemical diversity of the genus Gambierdiscus in the Atlantic Ocean. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2024; 222:114095. [PMID: 38631521 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus have been associated with ciguatera, the most common non-bacterial fish-related intoxication in the world. Many studies report the presence of potentially toxic Gambierdiscus species along the Atlantic coasts including G. australes, G. silvae and G. excentricus. Estimates of their toxicity, as determined by bio-assays, vary substantially, both between species and strains of the same species. Therefore, there is a need for additional knowledge on the metabolite production of Gambierdiscus species and their variation to better understand species differences. Using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, toxin and metabolomic profiles of five species of Gambierdiscus found in the Atlantic Ocean were reported. In addition, a molecular network was constructed aiming at annotating the metabolomes. Results demonstrated that G. excentricus could be discriminated from the other species based solely on the presence of MTX4 and sulfo-gambierones and that the variation in toxin content for a single strain could be up to a factor of two due to different culture conditions between laboratories. While untargeted analyses highlighted a higher variability at the metabolome level, signal correction was applied and supervised multivariate statistics performed on the untargeted data set permitted the selection of 567 features potentially useful as biomarkers for the distinction of G. excentricus, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. silvae and G. belizeanus. Further studies will be required to validate the use of these biomarkers in discriminating Gambierdiscus species. The study also provided an overview about 17 compound classes present in Gambierdiscus, however, significant improvements in annotation are still required to reach a more comprehensive knowledge of Gambierdiscus' metabolome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Yon
- Ifremer, PHYTOX, Laboratoire METALG, F-44000 Nantes, France.
| | | | - Manoëlla Sibat
- Ifremer, PHYTOX, Laboratoire METALG, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Chris Holland
- Beaufort Laboratory, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - R Wayne Litaker
- CSS, Inc. Under Contract to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Silvia M Nascimento
- Laboratório de Microalgas Marinhas, Departamento de Ecologia e Recursos Marinhos, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro 22290-240, Brazil
| | - Araceli E Rossignoli
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Ocenográfico de Vigo, Subida a Radiofaro 50, 36390 Vigo, Spain
| | - Pilar Riobó
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, CSIC. Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Philipp Hess
- Ifremer, PHYTOX, Laboratoire METALG, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Samuel Bertrand
- Nantes Université, Institut des Substances et Organismes de la Mer, ISOMer, UR 2160, F-44000 Nantes, France; ThalassOMICS Metabolomics Facility, Plateforme Corsaire, Biogenouest, 44311 Nantes, France
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3
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Keeling PJ, Mtawali M, Trznadel M, Livingston SJ, Wakeman KC. Parallel functional reduction in the mitochondria of apicomplexan parasites. Eur J Protistol 2024; 94:126065. [PMID: 38492251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Extreme functional reduction of mitochondria has taken place in parallel in many distantly related lineages of eukaryotes, leading to a number of recurring metabolic states with variously lost electron transport chain (ETC) complexes, loss of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and/or loss of the mitochondrial genome. The resulting mitochondria-related organelles (MROs) are generally structurally reduced and in the most extreme cases barely recognizable features of the cell with no role in energy metabolism whatsoever (e.g., mitosomes, which generally only make iron-sulfur clusters). Recently, a wide diversity of MROs were discovered to be hiding in plain sight: in gregarine apicomplexans. This diverse group of invertebrate parasites has been known and observed for centuries, but until recent applications of culture-free genomics, their mitochondria were unremarkable. The genomics, however, showed that mitochondrial function has reduced in parallel in multiple gregarine lineages to several different endpoints, including the most reduced mitosomes. Here we review this remarkable case of parallel evolution of MROs, and some of the interesting questions this work raises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada.
| | - Mahara Mtawali
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada
| | - Morelia Trznadel
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada
| | - Samuel J Livingston
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin C Wakeman
- Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Hokkaido, Japan
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4
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Pan X, Liu H, Feng L, Zong Y, Cao Z, Guo L, Yang G. Full-length transcriptome analysis of a bloom-forming dinoflagellate Prorocentrum shikokuense (Dinophyceae). Sci Data 2024; 11:430. [PMID: 38664437 PMCID: PMC11045741 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03269-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prorocentrum shikokuense (formerly P. donghaiense) is a pivotal dinoflagellate species associating with the HABs in the East China Sea. The complexity of its large nuclear genome hindered us from understanding its genomic characteristics. Full-length transcriptome sequencing offers a practical solution to decipher the physiological mechanisms of a species without the reference genome. In this study, we employed single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology to sequence the full-length transcriptome of Prorocentrum shikokuense. We successfully generated 41.73 Gb of clean SMRT sequencing reads and isolated 105,249 non-redundant full-length non-chimeric reads. Our trial has led to the identification of 11,917 long non-coding RNA transcripts, 514 alternative splicing events, 437 putative transcription factor genes from 17 TF gene families, and 34,723 simple sequence repeats. Additionally, a total of 78,265 open reading frames were identified, of them 15,501 were the protein coding sequences. This dataset is valuable for annotating P. shikokuense genome, and will contribute significantly to the in-depth studies on the molecular mechanisms underlining the dinoflagellate bloom formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Pan
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
| | - Hang Liu
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
| | - Leili Feng
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
| | - Yanan Zong
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
| | - Zihao Cao
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
| | - Li Guo
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China.
| | - Guanpin Yang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity of Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China (OUC), Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China.
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China.
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Namasivayam S, Sun C, Bah AB, Oberstaller J, Pierre-Louis E, Etheridge RD, Feschotte C, Pritham EJ, Kissinger JC. Massive invasion of organellar DNA drives nuclear genome evolution in Toxoplasma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308569120. [PMID: 37917792 PMCID: PMC10636329 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308569120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protist pathogen that infects up to one third of the human population. This apicomplexan parasite contains three genome sequences: nuclear (65 Mb); plastid organellar, ptDNA (35 kb); and mitochondrial organellar, mtDNA (5.9 kb of non-repetitive sequence). We find that the nuclear genome contains a significant amount of NUMTs (nuclear integrants of mitochondrial DNA) and NUPTs (nuclear integrants of plastid DNA) that are continuously acquired and represent a significant source of intraspecific genetic variation. NUOT (nuclear DNA of organellar origin) accretion has generated 1.6% of the extant T. gondii ME49 nuclear genome-the highest fraction ever reported in any organism. NUOTs are primarily found in organisms that retain the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway. Significant movement of organellar DNA was experimentally captured via amplicon sequencing of a CRISPR-induced double-strand break in non-homologous end-joining repair competent, but not ku80 mutant, Toxoplasma parasites. Comparisons with Neospora caninum, a species that diverged from Toxoplasma ~28 mya, revealed that the movement and fixation of five NUMTs predates the split of the two genera. This unexpected level of NUMT conservation suggests evolutionary constraint for cellular function. Most NUMT insertions reside within (60%) or nearby genes (23% within 1.5 kb), and reporter assays indicate that some NUMTs have the ability to function as cis-regulatory elements modulating gene expression. Together, these findings portray a role for organellar sequence insertion in dynamically shaping the genomic architecture and likely contributing to adaptation and phenotypic changes in this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheng Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | - Assiatu B. Bah
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | | | - Edwin Pierre-Louis
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA30602
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA30602
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | - Ellen J. Pritham
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | - Jessica C. Kissinger
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA30602
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6
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Ishida H, John U, Murray SA, Bhattacharya D, Chan CX. Developing model systems for dinoflagellates in the post-genomic era. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:799-808. [PMID: 37657822 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of eukaryotic microbes that are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. Largely photosynthetic, they encompass symbiotic, parasitic, and free-living lineages with a broad spectrum of trophism. Many free-living taxa can produce bioactive secondary metabolites such as biotoxins, some of which cause harmful algal blooms. In contrast, most symbiotic species are crucial for sustaining coral reef health. The year 2023 marked a decade since the first genome data of dinoflagellates became available. The growing genome-scale resources for these taxa are highlighting their remarkable evolutionary and genomic complexities. Here, we discuss the prospect of developing dinoflagellate models using the criteria of accessibility, tractability, resources, research support, and promise. Moving forward in the post-genomic era, we argue for the development of fit-to-purpose models that tailor to specific biological contexts, and that a one-size-fits-all model is inadequate for encapsulating the complex biology, ecology, and evolutionary history of dinoflagellates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisatake Ishida
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Uwe John
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Shauna A Murray
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Namasivayam S, Sun C, Bah AB, Oberstaller J, Pierre-Louis E, Etheridge RD, Feschotte C, Pritham EJ, Kissinger JC. Massive invasion of organellar DNA drives nuclear genome evolution in Toxoplasma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.22.539837. [PMID: 37293002 PMCID: PMC10245829 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.539837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protist pathogen that infects up to 1/3 of the human population. This apicomplexan parasite contains three genome sequences: nuclear (63 Mb); plastid organellar, ptDNA (35 kb); and mitochondrial organellar, mtDNA (5.9 kb of non-repetitive sequence). We find that the nuclear genome contains a significant amount of NUMTs (nuclear DNA of mitochondrial origin) and NUPTs (nuclear DNA of plastid origin) that are continuously acquired and represent a significant source of intraspecific genetic variation. NUOT (nuclear DNA of organellar origin) accretion has generated 1.6% of the extant T. gondii ME49 nuclear genome; the highest fraction ever reported in any organism. NUOTs are primarily found in organisms that retain the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway. Significant movement of organellar DNA was experimentally captured via amplicon sequencing of a CRISPR-induced double-strand break in non-homologous end-joining repair competent, but not ku80 mutant, Toxoplasma parasites. Comparisons with Neospora caninum, a species that diverged from Toxoplasma ~28 MY ago, revealed that the movement and fixation of 5 NUMTs predates the split of the two genera. This unexpected level of NUMT conservation suggests evolutionary constraint for cellular function. Most NUMT insertions reside within (60%) or nearby genes (23% within 1.5 kb) and reporter assays indicate that some NUMTs have the ability to function as cis-regulatory elements modulating gene expression. Together these findings portray a role for organellar sequence insertion in dynamically shaping the genomic architecture and likely contributing to adaptation and phenotypic changes in this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivaranjani Namasivayam
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Present address: Clinical Microbiome Unit, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cheng Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; Present address: College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Assiatu B Bah
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Present address: Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Edwin Pierre-Louis
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019; Present address: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2703, USA
| | - Ellen J. Pritham
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019
| | - Jessica C. Kissinger
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Macher JN, Coots NL, Poh YP, Girard EB, Langerak A, Muñoz-Gómez SA, Sinha SD, Jirsová D, Vos R, Wissels R, Gile GH, Renema W, Wideman JG. Single-Cell Genomics Reveals the Divergent Mitochondrial Genomes of Retaria (Foraminifera and Radiolaria). mBio 2023; 14:e0030223. [PMID: 36939357 PMCID: PMC10127745 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00302-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria originated from an ancient bacterial endosymbiont that underwent reductive evolution by gene loss and endosymbiont gene transfer to the nuclear genome. The diversity of mitochondrial genomes published to date has revealed that gene loss and transfer processes are ongoing in many lineages. Most well-studied eukaryotic lineages are represented in mitochondrial genome databases, except for the superphylum Retaria-the lineage comprising Foraminifera and Radiolaria. Using single-cell approaches, we determined two complete mitochondrial genomes of Foraminifera and two nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of radiolarians. We report the complete coding content of an additional 14 foram species. We show that foraminiferan and radiolarian mitochondrial genomes contain a nearly fully overlapping but reduced mitochondrial gene complement compared to other sequenced rhizarians. In contrast to animals and fungi, many protists encode a diverse set of proteins on their mitochondrial genomes, including several ribosomal genes; however, some aerobic eukaryotic lineages (euglenids, myzozoans, and chlamydomonas-like algae) have reduced mitochondrial gene content and lack all ribosomal genes. Similar to these reduced outliers, we show that retarian mitochondrial genomes lack ribosomal protein and tRNA genes, contain truncated and divergent small and large rRNA genes, and contain only 14 or 15 protein-coding genes, including nad1, -3, -4, -4L, -5, and -7, cob, cox1, -2, and -3, and atp1, -6, and -9, with forams and radiolarians additionally carrying nad2 and nad6, respectively. In radiolarian mitogenomes, a noncanonical genetic code was identified in which all three stop codons encode amino acids. Collectively, these results add to our understanding of mitochondrial genome evolution and fill in one of the last major gaps in mitochondrial sequence databases. IMPORTANCE We present the reduced mitochondrial genomes of Retaria, the rhizarian lineage comprising the phyla Foraminifera and Radiolaria. By applying single-cell genomic approaches, we found that foraminiferan and radiolarian mitochondrial genomes contain an overlapping but reduced mitochondrial gene complement compared to other sequenced rhizarians. An alternative genetic code was identified in radiolarian mitogenomes in which all three stop codons encode amino acids. Collectively, these results shed light on the divergent nature of the mitochondrial genomes from an ecologically important group, warranting further questions into the biological underpinnings of gene content variability and genetic code variation between mitochondrial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Niklas Macher
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marine Biodiversity Group, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole L. Coots
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Yu-Ping Poh
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Elsa B. Girard
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marine Biodiversity Group, Leiden, The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, Department of Ecosystem & Landscape Dynamics, Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk Langerak
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marine Biodiversity Group, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Savar D. Sinha
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Dagmar Jirsová
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Rutger Vos
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marine Biodiversity Group, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Wissels
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marine Biodiversity Group, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gillian H. Gile
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Willem Renema
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Marine Biodiversity Group, Leiden, The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam, Department of Ecosystem & Landscape Dynamics, Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeremy G. Wideman
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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9
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Zhang J, Richards ZT, Adam AAS, Chan CX, Shinzato C, Gilmour J, Thomas L, Strugnell JM, Miller DJ, Cooke I. Evolutionary responses of a reef-building coral to climate change at the end of the last glacial maximum. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac201. [PMID: 36219871 PMCID: PMC9578555 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change threatens the survival of coral reefs on a global scale, primarily through mass bleaching and mortality as a result of marine heatwaves. While these short-term effects are clear, predicting the fate of coral reefs over the coming century is a major challenge. One way to understand the longer-term effects of rapid climate change is to examine the response of coral populations to past climate shifts. Coastal and shallow-water marine ecosystems such as coral reefs have been reshaped many times by sea-level changes during the Pleistocene, yet, few studies have directly linked this with its consequences on population demographics, dispersal, and adaptation. Here we use powerful analytical techniques, afforded by haplotype phased whole-genomes, to establish such links for the reef-building coral, Acropora digitifera. We show that three genetically distinct populations are present in northwestern Australia, and that their rapid divergence since the last glacial maximum (LGM) can be explained by a combination of founder-effects and restricted gene flow. Signatures of selective sweeps, too strong to be explained by demographic history, are present in all three populations and overlap with genes that show different patterns of functional enrichment between inshore and offshore habitats. In contrast to rapid divergence in the host, we find that photosymbiont communities are largely undifferentiated between corals from all three locations, spanning almost 1000 km, indicating that selection on host genes and not acquisition of novel symbionts, has been the primary driver of adaptation for this species in northwestern Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Zoe T Richards
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
| | - Arne A S Adam
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo277-8564, Chiba, Japan
| | - James Gilmour
- Australia Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Luke Thomas
- Australia Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Oceans Graduate School, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jan M Strugnell
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan 904-0495
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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10
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Gornik SG, Flores V, Reinhardt F, Erber L, Salas-Leiva DE, Douvropoulou O, Lassadi I, Einarsson E, Mörl M, Git A, Stadler PF, Pain A, Waller RF. Mitochondrial Genomes in Perkinsus Decode Conserved Frameshifts in All Genes. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6701636. [PMID: 36108082 PMCID: PMC9550989 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial genomes of apicomplexans, dinoflagellates, and chrompodellids that collectively make up the Myzozoa, encode only three proteins (Cytochrome b [COB], Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 [COX1], Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 [COX3]), contain fragmented ribosomal RNAs, and display extensive recombination, RNA trans-splicing, and RNA-editing. The early-diverging Perkinsozoa is the final major myzozoan lineage whose mitochondrial genomes remained poorly characterized. Previous reports of Perkinsus genes indicated independent acquisition of non-canonical features, namely the occurrence of multiple frameshifts. To determine both ancestral myzozoan and novel perkinsozoan mitochondrial genome features, we sequenced and assembled mitochondrial genomes of four Perkinsus species. These data show a simple ancestral genome with the common reduced coding capacity but disposition for rearrangement. We identified 75 frameshifts across the four species that occur as distinct types and that are highly conserved in gene location. A decoding mechanism apparently employs unused codons at the frameshift sites that advance translation either +1 or +2 frames to the next used codon. The locations of frameshifts are seemingly positioned to regulate protein folding of the nascent protein as it emerges from the ribosome. The cox3 gene is distinct in containing only one frameshift and showing strong selection against residues that are otherwise frequently encoded at the frameshift positions in cox1 and cob. All genes lack cysteine codons implying a reduction to 19 amino acids in these genomes. Furthermore, mitochondrion-encoded rRNA fragment complements are incomplete in Perkinsus spp. but some are found in the nuclear DNA suggesting import into the organelle. Perkinsus demonstrates further remarkable trajectories of organelle genome evolution including pervasive integration of frameshift translation into genome expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victor Flores
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, United Kingdom
| | - Franziska Reinhardt
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lieselotte Erber
- Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dayana E Salas-Leiva
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, United Kingdom
| | - Olga Douvropoulou
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Imen Lassadi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, United Kingdom
| | - Elin Einarsson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, United Kingdom
| | - Mario Mörl
- Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Git
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, United Kingdom
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany,Discrete Biomathematics, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, 04103 Leipzig, Germany,Theoretical Biochemistry Group, Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Str. 17, Alsergrund, Vienna 1090, Austria,Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, 001-0020 North 20, West 10 Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
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11
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Morón-López J, Vergara K, Sato M, Gajardo G, Ueki S. Intraspecies variation of the mitochondrial genome: An evaluation for phylogenetic approaches based on the conventional choices of genes and segments on mitogenome. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273330. [PMID: 35980990 PMCID: PMC9387813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecies nucleotide sequence variation is a key to understanding the evolutionary history of a species, such as the geographic distribution and population structure. To date, numerous phylogenetic and population genetics studies have been conducted based on the sequences of a gene or an intergenic region on the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), such as cytochrome c oxidase subunits or the D-loop. To evaluate the credibility of the usage of such 'classic' markers, we compared the phylogenetic inferences based on the analyses of the partial and entire mtDNA sequences. Importantly, the phylogenetic reconstruction based on the short marker sequences did not necessarily reproduce the tree topologies based on the analyses of the entire mtDNA. In addition, analyses on the datasets of various organisms revealed that the analyses based on the classic markers yielded phylogenetic trees with poor confidence in all tested cases compared to the results based on full-length mtDNA. These results demonstrated that phylogenetic analyses based on complete mtDNA sequences yield more insightful results compared to those based on mitochondrial genes and segments. To ameliorate the shortcomings of the classic markers, we identified a segment of mtDNA that may be used as an 'approximate marker' to closely reproduce the phylogenetic inference obtained from the entire mtDNA in the case of mammalian species, which can be utilized to design amplicon-seq-based studies. Our study demonstrates the importance of the choice of mitochondrial markers for phylogenetic analyses and proposes a novel approach to choosing appropriate markers for mammalian mtDNA that reproduces the phylogenetic inferences obtained from full-length mtDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Morón-López
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki city, Okayama, Japan
| | - Karen Vergara
- Laboratorio de Genética, Acuicultura & Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Avda, Osorno, Chile
| | - Masanao Sato
- Division of Applied Bioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Gonzalo Gajardo
- Laboratorio de Genética, Acuicultura & Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad, Universidad de Los Lagos, Avda, Osorno, Chile
| | - Shoko Ueki
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki city, Okayama, Japan
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12
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Berná L, Rego N, Francia ME. The Elusive Mitochondrial Genomes of Apicomplexa: Where Are We Now? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:751775. [PMID: 34721355 PMCID: PMC8554336 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.751775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are vital organelles of eukaryotic cells, participating in key metabolic pathways such as cellular respiration, thermogenesis, maintenance of cellular redox potential, calcium homeostasis, cell signaling, and cell death. The phylum Apicomplexa is entirely composed of obligate intracellular parasites, causing a plethora of severe diseases in humans, wild and domestic animals. These pathogens include the causative agents of malaria, cryptosporidiosis, neosporosis, East Coast fever and toxoplasmosis, among others. The mitochondria in Apicomplexa has been put forward as a promising source of undiscovered drug targets, and it has been validated as the target of atovaquone, a drug currently used in the clinic to counter malaria. Apicomplexans present a single tubular mitochondria that varies widely both in structure and in genomic content across the phylum. The organelle is characterized by massive gene migrations to the nucleus, sequence rearrangements and drastic functional reductions in some species. Recent third generation sequencing studies have reignited an interest for elucidating the extensive diversity displayed by the mitochondrial genomes of apicomplexans and their intriguing genomic features. The underlying mechanisms of gene transcription and translation are also ill-understood. In this review, we present the state of the art on mitochondrial genome structure, composition and organization in the apicomplexan phylum revisiting topological and biochemical information gathered through classical techniques. We contextualize this in light of the genomic insight gained by second and, more recently, third generation sequencing technologies. We discuss the mitochondrial genomic and mechanistic features found in evolutionarily related alveolates, and discuss the common and distinct origins of the apicomplexan mitochondria peculiarities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Berná
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Molecular Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Bioinformatics Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Sección Biomatemática-Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Rego
- Bioinformatics Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María E Francia
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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13
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Gutierrez-Liberato GA, Lotta-Arévalo IA, González LP, Vargas-Ramírez M, Rodríguez-Fandiño O, Cepeda AS, Ortiz-Moreno ML, Matta NE. The genetic and morphological diversity of Haemogregarina infecting turtles in Colombia: Are mitochondrial markers useful as barcodes for these parasites? INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 95:105040. [PMID: 34403833 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Adeleorinid parasites commonly infect turtles and tortoises in nature. Currently, our knowledge about such parasites is extremely poor. Their characterization is based on morphological and molecular approaches using the 18S rDNA molecular marker. However, there is a limitation with the 18S rDNA due to its slow rate of evolution. For that reason, the goals of this study were to 1) design primers for new molecular mitochondrial markers to improve the phylogenetic reconstructions of adeleorinid parasites and 2) to determine the morphological and genetic diversity of Haemogregarina infecting turtles and tortoises in Colombia. Turtles from 16 species representing six families were examined for the presence of haemoparasites. We analyzed 457 samples using PCR, and 203 of them were also analyzed by microscopy. Using a mitochondrial genome of Haemogregarina sequenced in this study, we designed primers to amplify fragments of the cytochrome oxidase I (coxI), cytochrome oxidase III (coxIII), and cytochrome b (cytb) mitochondrial markers in adeleorinid parasites. Lineages obtained from nuclear and mitochondrial molecular markers clustered according to the turtle lineages from which they were isolated. It is noteworthy that we found different evolutionary lineages within the same morphotype, which may indicate heteroplasmy and/or cryptic diversity in Haemogregarina. Due to this situation, we could not make a species delimitation, even when integrating the different lines of evidence we had in this study. However, the primers presented here are useful for diagnosis and, moreover, according to the available information, all three genes retain phylogenetic signals; thereby fragments amplified can be used in reconstructing evolutionary relationships. This effort contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of these parasites infecting continental turtles from Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán A Gutierrez-Liberato
- Departamento de Salud pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Ingrid A Lotta-Arévalo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Leydy P González
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Mario Vargas-Ramírez
- Instituto de genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia; Estación Biológica Tropical Roberto Franco, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia.
| | - Oscar Rodríguez-Fandiño
- Dirección de investigación, Fundación Universitaria Internacional del Trópico Americano Unitrópico, Yopal, Casanare, Colombia.
| | - Axl S Cepeda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia; Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Martha Lucia Ortiz-Moreno
- Departamento de Biología y Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de los Llanos-UNILLANOS, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia.
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
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14
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Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a universal hallmark of aerobic eukaryotes. That is why the recent suggestion by John et al. (2019. An aerobic eukaryotic parasite with functional mitochondria that likely lacks a mitochondrial genome. Sci Adv. 5(4):eaav1110.) that the aerobic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya sp. strain AT5 (Syndiniales) lacks mtDNA was so remarkable. Here, by reanalyzing recently published genomic and transcriptomic data from three Amoebophrya strains, we provide evidence of a cryptic, highly reduced mtDNA in this clade. More work is needed before one can definitively say if Amoebophrya has or does not have an mtDNA, but for now, the data are pointing toward the existence of one. Ultimately, we urge caution when basing supposedly absent genomic features on single line evidences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Kayal
- Fédération de Recherche 2424 Sorbonne Université & Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - David R Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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15
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Mitochondrial Genomic Landscape: A Portrait of the Mitochondrial Genome 40 Years after the First Complete Sequence. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070663. [PMID: 34357035 PMCID: PMC8303319 DOI: 10.3390/life11070663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Notwithstanding the initial claims of general conservation, mitochondrial genomes are a largely heterogeneous set of organellar chromosomes which displays a bewildering diversity in terms of structure, architecture, gene content, and functionality. The mitochondrial genome is typically described as a single chromosome, yet many examples of multipartite genomes have been found (for example, among sponges and diplonemeans); the mitochondrial genome is typically depicted as circular, yet many linear genomes are known (for example, among jellyfish, alveolates, and apicomplexans); the chromosome is normally said to be “small”, yet there is a huge variation between the smallest and the largest known genomes (found, for example, in ctenophores and vascular plants, respectively); even the gene content is highly unconserved, ranging from the 13 oxidative phosphorylation-related enzymatic subunits encoded by animal mitochondria to the wider set of mitochondrial genes found in jakobids. In the present paper, we compile and describe a large database of 27,873 mitochondrial genomes currently available in GenBank, encompassing the whole eukaryotic domain. We discuss the major features of mitochondrial molecular diversity, with special reference to nucleotide composition and compositional biases; moreover, the database is made publicly available for future analyses on the MoZoo Lab GitHub page.
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16
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Namasivayam S, Baptista RP, Xiao W, Hall EM, Doggett JS, Troell K, Kissinger JC. A novel fragmented mitochondrial genome in the protist pathogen Toxoplasma gondii and related tissue coccidia. Genome Res 2021; 31:852-865. [PMID: 33906963 PMCID: PMC8092004 DOI: 10.1101/gr.266403.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial genome content and structure vary widely across the eukaryotic tree of life, with protists displaying extreme examples. Apicomplexan and dinoflagellate protists have evolved highly reduced mitochondrial genome sequences, mtDNA, consisting of only three cytochrome genes and fragmented rRNA genes. Here, we report the independent evolution of fragmented cytochrome genes in Toxoplasma and related tissue coccidia and evolution of a novel genome architecture consisting minimally of 21 sequence blocks (SBs) totaling 5.9 kb that exist as nonrandom concatemers. Single-molecule Nanopore reads consisting entirely of SBs ranging from 0.1 to 23.6 kb reveal both whole and fragmented cytochrome genes. Full-length cytochrome transcripts including a divergent coxIII are detected. The topology of the mitochondrial genome remains an enigma. Analysis of a cob point mutation reveals that homoplasmy of SBs is maintained. Tissue coccidia are important pathogens of man and animals, and the mitochondrion represents an important therapeutic target. The mtDNA sequence has been elucidated, but a definitive genome architecture remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivaranjani Namasivayam
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Rodrigo P Baptista
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.,Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Wenyuan Xiao
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Erica M Hall
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Joseph S Doggett
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | - Karin Troell
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica C Kissinger
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.,Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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17
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Hollin T, Jaroszewski L, Stajich JE, Godzik A, Le Roch KG. Identification and phylogenetic analysis of RNA binding domain abundant in apicomplexans or RAP proteins. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 33656416 PMCID: PMC8190603 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA binding domain abundant in apicomplexans (RAP) is a protein domain identified in a diverse group of proteins, called RAP proteins, many of which have been shown to be involved in RNA binding. To understand the expansion and potential function of the RAP proteins, we conducted a hidden Markov model based screen among the proteomes of 54 eukaryotes, 17 bacteria and 12 archaea. We demonstrated that the domain is present in closely and distantly related organisms with particular expansions in Alveolata and Chlorophyta, and are not unique to Apicomplexa as previously believed. All RAP proteins identified can be decomposed into two parts. In the N-terminal region, the presence of variable helical repeats seems to participate in the specific targeting of diverse RNAs, while the RAP domain is mostly identified in the C-terminal region and is highly conserved across the different phylogenetic groups studied. Several conserved residues defining the signature motif could be crucial to ensure the function(s) of the RAP proteins. Modelling of RAP domains in apicomplexan parasites confirmed an ⍺/β structure of a restriction endonuclease-like fold. The phylogenetic trees generated from multiple alignment of RAP domains and full-length proteins from various distantly related eukaryotes indicated a complex evolutionary history of this family. We further discuss these results to assess the potential function of this protein family in apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hollin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Lukasz Jaroszewski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Adam Godzik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Karine G. Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- *Correspondence: Karine G. Le Roch,
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18
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Farhat S, Le P, Kayal E, Noel B, Bigeard E, Corre E, Maumus F, Florent I, Alberti A, Aury JM, Barbeyron T, Cai R, Da Silva C, Istace B, Labadie K, Marie D, Mercier J, Rukwavu T, Szymczak J, Tonon T, Alves-de-Souza C, Rouzé P, Van de Peer Y, Wincker P, Rombauts S, Porcel BM, Guillou L. Rapid protein evolution, organellar reductions, and invasive intronic elements in the marine aerobic parasite dinoflagellate Amoebophrya spp. BMC Biol 2021; 19:1. [PMID: 33407428 PMCID: PMC7789003 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00927-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dinoflagellates are aquatic protists particularly widespread in the oceans worldwide. Some are responsible for toxic blooms while others live in symbiotic relationships, either as mutualistic symbionts in corals or as parasites infecting other protists and animals. Dinoflagellates harbor atypically large genomes (~ 3 to 250 Gb), with gene organization and gene expression patterns very different from closely related apicomplexan parasites. Here we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two early-diverging and co-occurring parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya strains, to shed light on the emergence of such atypical genomic features, dinoflagellate evolution, and host specialization. RESULTS We sequenced, assembled, and annotated high-quality genomes for two Amoebophrya strains (A25 and A120), using a combination of Illumina paired-end short-read and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION long-read sequencing approaches. We found a small number of transposable elements, along with short introns and intergenic regions, and a limited number of gene families, together contribute to the compactness of the Amoebophrya genomes, a feature potentially linked with parasitism. While the majority of Amoebophrya proteins (63.7% of A25 and 59.3% of A120) had no functional assignment, we found many orthologs shared with Dinophyceae. Our analyses revealed a strong tendency for genes encoded by unidirectional clusters and high levels of synteny conservation between the two genomes despite low interspecific protein sequence similarity, suggesting rapid protein evolution. Most strikingly, we identified a large portion of non-canonical introns, including repeated introns, displaying a broad variability of associated splicing motifs never observed among eukaryotes. Those introner elements appear to have the capacity to spread over their respective genomes in a manner similar to transposable elements. Finally, we confirmed the reduction of organelles observed in Amoebophrya spp., i.e., loss of the plastid, potential loss of a mitochondrial genome and functions. CONCLUSION These results expand the range of atypical genome features found in basal dinoflagellates and raise questions regarding speciation and the evolutionary mechanisms at play while parastitism was selected for in this particular unicellular lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Farhat
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, USA
| | - Phuong Le
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ehsan Kayal
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Benjamin Noel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Estelle Bigeard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Erwan Corre
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Florian Maumus
- URGI, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France
| | - Isabelle Florent
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, CP 52, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Adriana Alberti
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Tristan Barbeyron
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8227, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Ruibo Cai
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Corinne Da Silva
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Benjamin Istace
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Karine Labadie
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Dominique Marie
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Jonathan Mercier
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Tsinda Rukwavu
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Jeremy Szymczak
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, FR2424, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Thierry Tonon
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Catharina Alves-de-Souza
- Algal Resources Collection, MARBIONC, Center for Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC, 28409, USA
| | - Pierre Rouzé
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Stephane Rombauts
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Betina M Porcel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France.
| | - Laure Guillou
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Ecology of Marine Plankton (ECOMAP), Station Biologique de Roscoff SBR, 29680, Roscoff, France.
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Barylyuk K, Koreny L, Ke H, Butterworth S, Crook OM, Lassadi I, Gupta V, Tromer E, Mourier T, Stevens TJ, Breckels LM, Pain A, Lilley KS, Waller RF. A Comprehensive Subcellular Atlas of the Toxoplasma Proteome via hyperLOPIT Provides Spatial Context for Protein Functions. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 28:752-766.e9. [PMID: 33053376 PMCID: PMC7670262 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites cause major human disease and food insecurity. They owe their considerable success to highly specialized cell compartments and structures. These adaptations drive their recognition, nondestructive penetration, and elaborate reengineering of the host's cells to promote their growth, dissemination, and the countering of host defenses. The evolution of unique apicomplexan cellular compartments is concomitant with vast proteomic novelty. Consequently, half of apicomplexan proteins are unique and uncharacterized. Here, we determine the steady-state subcellular location of thousands of proteins simultaneously within the globally prevalent apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This provides unprecedented comprehensive molecular definition of these unicellular eukaryotes and their specialized compartments, and these data reveal the spatial organizations of protein expression and function, adaptation to hosts, and the underlying evolutionary trajectories of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ludek Koreny
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Huiling Ke
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Simon Butterworth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Oliver M Crook
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK; Milner Therapeutics Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB20 0AW, UK; MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge Institute for Public Health, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Imen Lassadi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Vipul Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Eelco Tromer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tim J Stevens
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Lisa M Breckels
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK; Milner Therapeutics Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB20 0AW, UK
| | - Arnab Pain
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia; Global Station for Zoonosis Control, Gi-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan; Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kathryn S Lilley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK; Milner Therapeutics Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB20 0AW, UK
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK.
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20
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Sharaf A, Füssy Z, Tomčala A, Richtová J, Oborník M. Isolation of plastids and mitochondria from Chromera velia. PLANTA 2019; 250:1731-1741. [PMID: 31422509 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We present an easy and effective procedure to purify plastids and mitochondria from Chromera velia. Our method enables downstream analyses of protein and metabolite content of the organelles. Chromerids are alveolate algae that are the closest known phototrophic relatives to apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium or Toxoplasma. While genomic and transcriptomic resources for chromerids are in place, tools and experimental conditions for proteomic studies have not been developed yet. Here we describe a rapid and efficient protocol for simultaneous isolation of plastids and mitochondria from the chromerid alga Chromera velia. This procedure involves enzymatic treatment and breakage of cells, followed by differential centrifugation. While plastids sediment in the first centrifugation step, mitochondria remain in the supernatant. Subsequently, plastids can be purified from the crude pellet by centrifugation on a discontinuous 60%/70% sucrose density gradient, while mitochondria can be obtained by centrifugation on a discontinuous 33%/80% Percoll density gradient. Isolated plastids are autofluorescent, and their multi-membrane structure was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Fluorescent optical microscopy was used to identify isolated mitochondria stained with MitoTrackerTM green, while their intactness and membrane potential were confirmed by staining with MitoTrackerTM orange CMTMRos. Total proteins were extracted from isolated organellar fractions, and the purity of isolated organelles was confirmed using immunoblotting. Antibodies against the beta subunit of the mitochondrial ATP synthase and the plastid protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase did not cross-react on immunoblots, suggesting that each organellar fraction is free of the residues of the other. The presented protocol represents an essential step for further proteomic, organellar, and cell biological studies of C. velia and can be employed, with minor optimizations, in other thick-walled unicellular algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdoallah Sharaf
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Genetic Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11241, Egypt.
| | - Zoltán Füssy
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Tomčala
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Richtová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Fajardo C, Amil-Ruiz F, Fuentes-Almagro C, De Donato M, Martinez-Rodriguez G, Escobar-Niño A, Carrasco R, Mancera JM, Fernandez-Acero FJ. An “omic” approach to Pyrocystis lunula: New insights related with this bioluminescent dinoflagellate. J Proteomics 2019; 209:103502. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Omics Analysis for Dinoflagellates Biology Research. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7090288. [PMID: 31450827 PMCID: PMC6780300 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7090288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are important primary producers for marine ecosystems and are also responsible for certain essential components in human foods. However, they are also notorious for their ability to form harmful algal blooms, and cause shellfish poisoning. Although much work has been devoted to dinoflagellates in recent decades, our understanding of them at a molecular level is still limited owing to some of their challenging biological properties, such as large genome size, permanently condensed liquid-crystalline chromosomes, and the 10-fold lower ratio of protein to DNA than other eukaryotic species. In recent years, omics technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have been applied to the study of marine dinoflagellates and have uncovered many new physiological and metabolic characteristics of dinoflagellates. In this article, we review recent application of omics technologies in revealing some of the unusual features of dinoflagellate genomes and molecular mechanisms relevant to their biology, including the mechanism of harmful algal bloom formations, toxin biosynthesis, symbiosis, lipid biosynthesis, as well as species identification and evolution. We also discuss the challenges and provide prospective further study directions and applications of dinoflagellates.
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Sharaf A, Gruber A, Jiroutová K, Oborník M. Characterization of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Chromerids. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E582. [PMID: 31370303 PMCID: PMC6723311 DOI: 10.3390/genes10080582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AaRSs) are enzymes that catalyze the ligation of tRNAs to amino acids. There are AaRSs specific for each amino acid in the cell. Each cellular compartment in which translation takes place (the cytosol, mitochondria, and plastids in most cases), needs the full set of AaRSs; however, individual AaRSs can function in multiple compartments due to dual (or even multiple) targeting of nuclear-encoded proteins to various destinations in the cell. We searched the genomes of the chromerids, Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, for AaRS genes: 48 genes encoding AaRSs were identified in C. velia, while only 39 AaRS genes were found in V. brassicaformis. In the latter alga, ArgRS and GluRS were each encoded by a single gene occurring in a single copy; only PheRS was found in three genes, while the remaining AaRSs were encoded by two genes. In contrast, there were nine cases for which C. velia contained three genes of a given AaRS (45% of the AaRSs), all of them representing duplicated genes, except AsnRS and PheRS, which are more likely pseudoparalogs (acquired via horizontal or endosymbiotic gene transfer). Targeting predictions indicated that AaRSs are not (or not exclusively), in most cases, used in the cellular compartment from which their gene originates. The molecular phylogenies of the AaRSs are variable between the specific types, and similar between the two investigated chromerids. While genes with eukaryotic origin are more frequently retained, there is no clear pattern of orthologous pairs between C. velia and V. brassicaformis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdoallah Sharaf
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
| | - Ansgar Gruber
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Jiroutová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Verma A, Barua A, Ruvindy R, Savela H, Ajani PA, Murray SA. The Genetic Basis of Toxin Biosynthesis in Dinoflagellates. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E222. [PMID: 31362398 PMCID: PMC6722697 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7080222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In marine ecosystems, dinoflagellates can become highly abundant and even dominant at times, despite their comparatively slow growth rates. One factor that may play a role in their ecological success is the production of complex secondary metabolite compounds that can have anti-predator, allelopathic, or other toxic effects on marine organisms, and also cause seafood poisoning in humans. Our knowledge about the genes involved in toxin biosynthesis in dinoflagellates is currently limited due to the complex genomic features of these organisms. Most recently, the sequencing of dinoflagellate transcriptomes has provided us with valuable insights into the biosynthesis of polyketide and alkaloid-based toxin molecules in dinoflagellate species. This review synthesizes the recent progress that has been made in understanding the evolution, biosynthetic pathways, and gene regulation in dinoflagellates with the aid of transcriptomic and other molecular genetic tools, and provides a pathway for future studies of dinoflagellates in this exciting omics era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Verma
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia.
| | - Abanti Barua
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Chittagong 3814, Bangladesh
| | - Rendy Ruvindy
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia
| | - Henna Savela
- Finnish Environment Institute, Marine Research Centre, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Penelope A Ajani
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia
| | - Shauna A Murray
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney 2007, Australia
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Riaz S, Niaz Z, Khan S, Liu Y, Sui Z. Detection, characterization and expression dynamics of histone proteins in the dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum during growth regulation. HARMFUL ALGAE 2019; 87:101630. [PMID: 31349883 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2019.101630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Histones are the most abundant proteins associated with eukaryotic nuclear DNA. The exception is dinoflagellates, which have histone protein expression that is mostly reported to be below detectable levels. In this study, we investigated the presence of histone proteins and their functions in the dinoflagellate, Alexandrium pacificum. Histone protein sequences were analyzed, focusing on phylogenetic analysis and histone code. Histone expression was analyzed during the cell cycle and under nutritionally enhanced conditions using quantitative-PCR and western blots. Acid-soluble proteins were subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immunological detection of histone proteins (H2B and H4) in any dinoflagellate species. Absolute quantification of histone transcript in activily dividing cells revealed significant transcription in cells. The stable expression of histones during the cell cycle suggested that the histone genes in A. pacificum belonged to a replication-independent class and appeared to have a limited role in DNA packaging. The conservation of numerous post-translationally modified residues of multiple histone variants and differential expression of histones under nutritionally enhanced conditions suggested their functional significance in dinoflagellates. However, we detected histone H2B protein only via mass spectrometry. Histone-like protein was identified as most abundant acid-soluble protein of the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Riaz
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zeeshan Niaz
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| | - Sohrab Khan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Zhenghong Sui
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
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26
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Hillebrand A, Matz JM, Almendinger M, Müller K, Matuschewski K, Schmitz-Linneweber C. Identification of clustered organellar short (cos) RNAs and of a conserved family of organellar RNA-binding proteins, the heptatricopeptide repeat proteins, in the malaria parasite. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10417-10431. [PMID: 30102371 PMCID: PMC6212722 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression in mitochondria of Plasmodium falciparum is essential for parasite survival. The molecular mechanisms of Plasmodium organellar gene expression remain poorly understood. This includes the enigmatic assembly of the mitochondrial ribosome from highly fragmented rRNAs. Here, we present the identification of clustered organellar short RNA fragments (cosRNAs) that are possible footprints of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in Plasmodium organelles. In plants, RBPs of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) class produce footprints as a consequence of their function in processing organellar RNAs. Intriguingly, many of the Plasmodium cosRNAs overlap with 5'-ends of rRNA fragments. We hypothesize that these are footprints of RBPs involved in assembling the rRNA fragments into a functioning ribosome. A bioinformatics search of the Plasmodium nuclear genome identified a hitherto unrecognized organellar helical-hairpin-repeat protein family that we term heptatricopeptide repeat (HPR) proteins. We demonstrate that selected HPR proteins are targeted to mitochondria in P. berghei and that one of them, PbHPR1, associates with RNA, but not DNA in vitro. A phylogenetic search identified HPR proteins in a wide variety of eukaryotes. We hypothesize that HPR proteins are required for processing and stabilizing RNAs in Apicomplexa and other taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Hillebrand
- Humboldt University Berlin, Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim M Matz
- Humboldt University, Department of Molecular Parasitology, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Katja Müller
- Humboldt University, Department of Molecular Parasitology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Humboldt University, Department of Molecular Parasitology, Berlin, Germany
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27
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John U, Lu Y, Wohlrab S, Groth M, Janouškovec J, Kohli GS, Mark FC, Bickmeyer U, Farhat S, Felder M, Frickenhaus S, Guillou L, Keeling PJ, Moustafa A, Porcel BM, Valentin K, Glöckner G. An aerobic eukaryotic parasite with functional mitochondria that likely lacks a mitochondrial genome. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav1110. [PMID: 31032404 PMCID: PMC6482013 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav1110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are microbial eukaryotes that have exceptionally large nuclear genomes; however, their organelle genomes are small and fragmented and contain fewer genes than those of other eukaryotes. The genus Amoebophrya (Syndiniales) comprises endoparasites with high genetic diversity that can infect other dinoflagellates, such as those forming harmful algal blooms (e.g., Alexandrium). We sequenced the genome (~100 Mb) of Amoebophrya ceratii to investigate the early evolution of genomic characters in dinoflagellates. The A. ceratii genome encodes almost all essential biosynthetic pathways for self-sustaining cellular metabolism, suggesting a limited dependency on its host. Although dinoflagellates are thought to have descended from a photosynthetic ancestor, A. ceratii appears to have completely lost its plastid and nearly all genes of plastid origin. Functional mitochondria persist in all life stages of A. ceratii, but we found no evidence for the presence of a mitochondrial genome. Instead, all mitochondrial proteins appear to be lost or encoded in the A. ceratii nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe John
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Yameng Lu
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sylke Wohlrab
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Marco Groth
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, Jena, Germany
| | - Jan Janouškovec
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Gurjeet S. Kohli
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Felix C. Mark
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ulf Bickmeyer
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Sarah Farhat
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut de biologie François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057 Evry, France
| | - Marius Felder
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephan Frickenhaus
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Hochschule Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Laure Guillou
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Laboratoire Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Place Georges Teissier, CS90074, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, CS90074, 29688 Roscoff cedex, France
| | - Patrick J. Keeling
- Botany Department, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ahmed Moustafa
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Betina M. Porcel
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut de biologie François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057 Evry, France
| | - Klaus Valentin
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Gernot Glöckner
- Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Riaz S, Sui Z, Niaz Z, Khan S, Liu Y, Liu H. Distinctive Nuclear Features of Dinoflagellates with A Particular Focus on Histone and Histone-Replacement Proteins. Microorganisms 2018; 6:E128. [PMID: 30558155 PMCID: PMC6313786 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6040128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are important eukaryotic microorganisms that play critical roles as producers and grazers, and cause harmful algal blooms. The unusual nuclei of dinoflagellates "dinokaryon" have led researchers to investigate their enigmatic nuclear features. Their nuclei are unusual in terms of their permanently condensed nucleosome-less chromatin, immense genome, low protein to DNA ratio, guanine-cytosine rich methylated DNA, and unique mitosis process. Furthermore, dinoflagellates are the only known group of eukaryotes that apparently lack histone proteins. Over the course of evolution, dinoflagellates have recruited other proteins, e.g., histone-like proteins (HLPs), from bacteria and dinoflagellates/viral nucleoproteins (DVNPs) from viruses as histone substitutes. Expression diversity of these nucleoproteins has greatly influenced the chromatin structure and gene expression regulation in dinoflagellates. Histone replacement proteins (HLPs and DVNPs) are hypothesized to perform a few similar roles as histone proteins do in other eukaryotes, i.e., gene expression regulation and repairing DNA. However, their role in bulk packaging of DNA is not significant as low amounts of proteins are associated with the gigantic genome. This review intends to summarize the discoveries encompassing unique nuclear features of dinoflagellates, particularly focusing on histone and histone replacement proteins. In addition, a comprehensive view of the evolution of dinoflagellate nuclei is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Riaz
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.
| | - Zhenghong Sui
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Zeeshan Niaz
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra 21120, Pakistan.
| | - Sohrab Khan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
- Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra 21120, Pakistan.
| | - Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Haoxin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China.
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29
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Liu H, Stephens TG, González-Pech RA, Beltran VH, Lapeyre B, Bongaerts P, Cooke I, Aranda M, Bourne DG, Forêt S, Miller DJ, van Oppen MJH, Voolstra CR, Ragan MA, Chan CX. Symbiodinium genomes reveal adaptive evolution of functions related to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Commun Biol 2018; 1:95. [PMID: 30271976 PMCID: PMC6123633 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0098-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiosis between dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium and reef-building corals forms the trophic foundation of the world’s coral reef ecosystems. Here we present the first draft genome of Symbiodinium goreaui (Clade C, type C1: 1.03 Gbp), one of the most ubiquitous endosymbionts associated with corals, and an improved draft genome of Symbiodinium kawagutii (Clade F, strain CS-156: 1.05 Gbp) to further elucidate genomic signatures of this symbiosis. Comparative analysis of four available Symbiodinium genomes against other dinoflagellate genomes led to the identification of 2460 nuclear gene families (containing 5% of Symbiodinium genes) that show evidence of positive selection, including genes involved in photosynthesis, transmembrane ion transport, synthesis and modification of amino acids and glycoproteins, and stress response. Further, we identify extensive sets of genes for meiosis and response to light stress. These draft genomes provide a foundational resource for advancing our understanding of Symbiodinium biology and the coral-algal symbiosis. Huanle Liu et al. report draft genomes of two Symbiodinium species, one from the most dominant type of symbionts in reef-building corals. They find evidence of positive selection in genes related to stress response, meiosis and other traits required for forming successful symbiotic relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanle Liu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Timothy G Stephens
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Raúl A González-Pech
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Victor H Beltran
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Bruno Lapeyre
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.,Laboratoire d'excellence CORAIL, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, Moorea, 98729, French Polynesia
| | - Pim Bongaerts
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Manuel Aranda
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.,Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.,School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mark A Ragan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. .,School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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30
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Salunke R, Mourier T, Banerjee M, Pain A, Shanmugam D. Highly diverged novel subunit composition of apicomplexan F-type ATP synthase identified from Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006128. [PMID: 30005062 PMCID: PMC6059495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial F-type ATP synthase, a multisubunit nanomotor, is critical for maintaining cellular ATP levels. In T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites, many subunit components necessary for proper assembly and functioning of this enzyme appear to be missing. Here, we report the identification of 20 novel subunits of T. gondii F-type ATP synthase from mass spectrometry analysis of partially purified monomeric (approximately 600 kDa) and dimeric (>1 MDa) forms of the enzyme. Despite extreme sequence diversification, key FO subunits a, b, and d can be identified from conserved structural features. Orthologs for these proteins are restricted to apicomplexan, chromerid, and dinoflagellate species. Interestingly, their absence in ciliates indicates a major diversion, with respect to subunit composition of this enzyme, within the alveolate clade. Discovery of these highly diversified novel components of the apicomplexan F-type ATP synthase complex could facilitate the development of novel antiparasitic agents. Structural and functional characterization of this unusual enzyme complex will advance our fundamental understanding of energy metabolism in apicomplexan species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Salunke
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manidipa Banerjee
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dhanasekaran Shanmugam
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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31
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Del Cortona A, Leliaert F, Bogaert KA, Turmel M, Boedeker C, Janouškovec J, Lopez-Bautista JM, Verbruggen H, Vandepoele K, De Clerck O. The Plastid Genome in Cladophorales Green Algae Is Encoded by Hairpin Chromosomes. Curr Biol 2017; 27:3771-3782.e6. [PMID: 29199074 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Virtually all plastid (chloroplast) genomes are circular double-stranded DNA molecules, typically between 100 and 200 kb in size and encoding circa 80-250 genes. Exceptions to this universal plastid genome architecture are very few and include the dinoflagellates, where genes are located on DNA minicircles. Here we report on the highly deviant chloroplast genome of Cladophorales green algae, which is entirely fragmented into hairpin chromosomes. Short- and long-read high-throughput sequencing of DNA and RNA demonstrated that the chloroplast genes of Boodlea composita are encoded on 1- to 7-kb DNA contigs with an exceptionally high GC content, each containing a long inverted repeat with one or two protein-coding genes and conserved non-coding regions putatively involved in replication and/or expression. We propose that these contigs correspond to linear single-stranded DNA molecules that fold onto themselves to form hairpin chromosomes. The Boodlea chloroplast genes are highly divergent from their corresponding orthologs, and display an alternative genetic code. The origin of this highly deviant chloroplast genome most likely occurred before the emergence of the Cladophorales, and coincided with an elevated transfer of chloroplast genes to the nucleus. A chloroplast genome that is composed only of linear DNA molecules is unprecedented among eukaryotes, and highlights unexpected variation in plastid genome architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Del Cortona
- Department of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Frederik Leliaert
- Department of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium
| | - Kenny A Bogaert
- Department of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Monique Turmel
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Université Laval, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand 1030, Avenue de la Médecine, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Christian Boedeker
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, New Kirk Building, Kelburn Parade, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Jan Janouškovec
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Juan M Lopez-Bautista
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, 300 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35484-0345, USA
| | - Heroen Verbruggen
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Professors Walk, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium; Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Clerck
- Department of Biology, Phycology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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32
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Gagat P, Mackiewicz D, Mackiewicz P. Peculiarities within peculiarities - dinoflagellates and their mitochondrial genomes. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES 2017; 2:191-195. [PMID: 33473765 PMCID: PMC7800619 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2017.1307699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
After the establishment of an endosymbiotic relationship between a proto-mitochondrion and its probable archaeal host, mitochondrial genomes underwent a spectacular reductive evolution. An interesting pathway was chosen by mitogenomes of unicellular protists called dinoflagellates, which experienced an additional wave of reduction followed by amplification and rearrangement leading to their secondary complexity. The former resulted in a mitogenome consisting of only three protein-coding genes, the latter in their multiple copies being scattered across numerous chromosomes and the evolution of complex processes for their expression. These stunning features raise a question about the future of the dinoflagellate mitochondrial genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Gagat
- Department of Genomics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dorota Mackiewicz
- Department of Genomics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paweł Mackiewicz
- Department of Genomics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
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33
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Sanitá Lima M, Woods LC, Cartwright MW, Smith DR. The (in)complete organelle genome: exploring the use and nonuse of available technologies for characterizing mitochondrial and plastid chromosomes. Mol Ecol Resour 2016; 16:1279-1286. [PMID: 27482846 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Not long ago, scientists paid dearly in time, money and skill for every nucleotide that they sequenced. Today, DNA sequencing technologies epitomize the slogan 'faster, easier, cheaper and more', and in many ways, sequencing an entire genome has become routine, even for the smallest laboratory groups. This is especially true for mitochondrial and plastid genomes. Given their relatively small sizes and high copy numbers per cell, organelle DNAs are currently among the most highly sequenced kind of chromosome. But accurately characterizing an organelle genome and the information it encodes can require much more than DNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses. Organelle genomes can be surprisingly complex and can exhibit convoluted and unconventional modes of gene expression. Unravelling this complexity can demand a wide assortment of experiments, from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to Southern and Northern blots to RNA analyses. Here, we show that it is exactly these types of 'complementary' analyses that are often lacking from contemporary organelle genome papers, particularly short 'genome announcement' articles. Consequently, crucial and interesting features of organelle chromosomes are going undescribed, which could ultimately lead to a poor understanding and even a misrepresentation of these genomes and the genes they express. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics have made it easy to sequence and assemble entire chromosomes, but they should not be used as a substitute for or at the expense of other types of genomic characterization methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Sanitá Lima
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Laura C Woods
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Matthew W Cartwright
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - David Roy Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7.
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34
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Smith DR, Keeling PJ. Protists and the Wild, Wild West of Gene Expression: New Frontiers, Lawlessness, and Misfits. Annu Rev Microbiol 2016; 70:161-78. [PMID: 27359218 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The DNA double helix has been called one of life's most elegant structures, largely because of its universality, simplicity, and symmetry. The expression of information encoded within DNA, however, can be far from simple or symmetric and is sometimes surprisingly variable, convoluted, and wantonly inefficient. Although exceptions to the rules exist in certain model systems, the true extent to which life has stretched the limits of gene expression is made clear by nonmodel systems, particularly protists (microbial eukaryotes). The nuclear and organelle genomes of protists are subject to the most tangled forms of gene expression yet identified. The complicated and extravagant picture of the underlying genetics of eukaryotic microbial life changes how we think about the flow of genetic information and the evolutionary processes shaping it. Here, we discuss the origins, diversity, and growing interest in noncanonical protist gene expression and its relationship to genomic architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Roy Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7;
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4;
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35
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Zíková A, Hampl V, Paris Z, Týč J, Lukeš J. Aerobic mitochondria of parasitic protists: Diverse genomes and complex functions. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 209:46-57. [PMID: 26906976 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In this review the main features of the mitochondria of aerobic parasitic protists are discussed. While the best characterized organelles are by far those of kinetoplastid flagellates and Plasmodium, we also consider amoebae Naegleria and Acanthamoeba, a ciliate Ichthyophthirius and related lineages. The simplistic view of the mitochondrion as just a power house of the cell has already been abandoned in multicellular organisms and available data indicate that this also does not apply for protists. We discuss in more details the following mitochondrial features: genomes, post-transcriptional processing, translation, biogenesis of iron-sulfur complexes, heme metabolism and the electron transport chain. Substantial differences in all these core mitochondrial features between lineages are compatible with the view that aerobic protists harbor organelles that are more complex and flexible than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Zíková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.
| | - Vladimír Hampl
- Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Paris
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Týč
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada.
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36
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Abstract
Histone proteins and the nucleosomal organization of chromatin are near-universal eukaroytic features, with the exception of dinoflagellates. Previous studies have suggested that histones do not play a major role in the packaging of dinoflagellate genomes, although several genomic and transcriptomic surveys have detected a full set of core histone genes. Here, transcriptomic and genomic sequence data from multiple dinoflagellate lineages are analyzed, and the diversity of histone proteins and their variants characterized, with particular focus on their potential post-translational modifications and the conservation of the histone code. In addition, the set of putative epigenetic mark readers and writers, chromatin remodelers and histone chaperones are examined. Dinoflagellates clearly express the most derived set of histones among all autonomous eukaryote nuclei, consistent with a combination of relaxation of sequence constraints imposed by the histone code and the presence of numerous specialized histone variants. The histone code itself appears to have diverged significantly in some of its components, yet others are conserved, implying conservation of the associated biochemical processes. Specifically, and with major implications for the function of histones in dinoflagellates, the results presented here strongly suggest that transcription through nucleosomal arrays happens in dinoflagellates. Finally, the plausible roles of histones in dinoflagellate nuclei are discussed.
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37
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Dobáková E, Flegontov P, Skalický T, Lukeš J. Unexpectedly Streamlined Mitochondrial Genome of the Euglenozoan Euglena gracilis. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:3358-67. [PMID: 26590215 PMCID: PMC4700960 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we describe the mitochondrial genome of the excavate flagellate Euglena gracilis. Its gene complement is reduced as compared with the well-studied sister groups Diplonemea and Kinetoplastea. We have identified seven protein-coding genes: Three subunits of respiratory complex I (nad1, nad4, and nad5), one subunit of complex III (cob), and three subunits of complex IV (cox1, cox2, and a highly divergent cox3). Moreover, fragments of ribosomal RNA genes have also been identified. Genes encoding subunits of complex V, ribosomal proteins and tRNAs were missing, and are likely located in the nuclear genome. Although mitochondrial genomes of diplonemids and kinetoplastids possess the most complex RNA processing machineries known, including trans-splicing and editing of the uridine insertion/deletion type, respectively, our transcriptomic data suggest their total absence in E. gracilis. This finding supports a scenario in which the complex mitochondrial processing machineries of both sister groups evolved relatively late in evolution from a streamlined genome and transcriptome of their common predecessor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Dobáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic Departments of Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavel Flegontov
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Skalický
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Shoguchi E, Shinzato C, Hisata K, Satoh N, Mungpakdee S. The Large Mitochondrial Genome of Symbiodinium minutum Reveals Conserved Noncoding Sequences between Dinoflagellates and Apicomplexans. Genome Biol Evol 2015. [PMID: 26199191 PMCID: PMC4558855 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though mitochondrial genomes, which characterize eukaryotic cells, were first discovered more than 50 years ago, mitochondrial genomics remains an important topic in molecular biology and genome sciences. The Phylum Alveolata comprises three major groups (ciliates, apicomplexans, and dinoflagellates), the mitochondrial genomes of which have diverged widely. Even though the gene content of dinoflagellate mitochondrial genomes is reportedly comparable to that of apicomplexans, the highly fragmented and rearranged genome structures of dinoflagellates have frustrated whole genomic analysis. Consequently, noncoding sequences and gene arrangements of dinoflagellate mitochondrial genomes have not been well characterized. Here we report that the continuous assembled genome (∼326 kb) of the dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium minutum, is AT-rich (∼64.3%) and that it contains three protein-coding genes. Based upon in silico analysis, the remaining 99% of the genome comprises transcriptomic noncoding sequences. RNA edited sites and unique, possible start and stop codons clarify conserved regions among dinoflagellates. Our massive transcriptome analysis shows that almost all regions of the genome are transcribed, including 27 possible fragmented ribosomal RNA genes and 12 uncharacterized small RNAs that are similar to mitochondrial RNA genes of the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Gene map comparisons show that gene order is only slightly conserved between S. minutum and P. falciparum. However, small RNAs and intergenic sequences share sequence similarities with P. falciparum, suggesting that the function of noncoding sequences has been preserved despite development of very different genome structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Kanako Hisata
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Nori Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Sutada Mungpakdee
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
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Oborník M, Lukeš J. The Organellar Genomes of Chromera and Vitrella, the Phototrophic Relatives of Apicomplexan Parasites. Annu Rev Microbiol 2015; 69:129-44. [PMID: 26092225 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-091014-104449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexa are known to contain greatly reduced organellar genomes. Their mitochondrial genome carries only three protein-coding genes, and their plastid genome is reduced to a 35-kb-long circle. The discovery of coral-endosymbiotic algae Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, which share a common ancestry with Apicomplexa, provided an opportunity to study possibly ancestral forms of organellar genomes, a unique glimpse into the evolutionary history of apicomplexan parasites. The structurally similar mitochondrial genomes of Chromera and Vitrella differ in gene content, which is reflected in the composition of their respiratory chains. Thus, Chromera lacks respiratory complexes I and III, whereas Vitrella and apicomplexan parasites are missing only complex I. Plastid genomes differ substantially between these algae, particularly in structure: The Chromera plastid genome is a linear, 120-kb molecule with large and divergent genes, whereas the plastid genome of Vitrella is a highly compact circle that is only 85 kb long but nonetheless contains more genes than that of Chromera. It appears that organellar genomes have already been reduced in free-living phototrophic ancestors of apicomplexan parasites, and such reduction is not associated with parasitism.
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40
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Mitochondrial and plastid genome architecture: Reoccurring themes, but significant differences at the extremes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:10177-84. [PMID: 25814499 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1422049112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial and plastid genomes show a wide array of architectures, varying immensely in size, structure, and content. Some organelle DNAs have even developed elaborate eccentricities, such as scrambled coding regions, nonstandard genetic codes, and convoluted modes of posttranscriptional modification and editing. Here, we compare and contrast the breadth of genomic complexity between mitochondrial and plastid chromosomes. Both organelle genomes have independently evolved many of the same features and taken on similar genomic embellishments, often within the same species or lineage. This trend is most likely because the nuclear-encoded proteins mediating these processes eventually leak from one organelle into the other, leading to a high likelihood of processes appearing in both compartments in parallel. However, the complexity and intensity of genomic embellishments are consistently more pronounced for mitochondria than for plastids, even when they are found in both compartments. We explore the evolutionary forces responsible for these patterns and argue that organelle DNA repair processes, mutation rates, and population genetic landscapes are all important factors leading to the observed convergence and divergence in organelle genome architecture.
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41
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Flegontov P, Michálek J, Janouškovec J, Lai DH, Jirků M, Hajdušková E, Tomčala A, Otto TD, Keeling PJ, Pain A, Oborník M, Lukeš J. Divergent mitochondrial respiratory chains in phototrophic relatives of apicomplexan parasites. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 32:1115-31. [PMID: 25660376 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Four respiratory complexes and ATP-synthase represent central functional units in mitochondria. In some mitochondria and derived anaerobic organelles, a few or all of these respiratory complexes have been lost during evolution. We show that the respiratory chain of Chromera velia, a phototrophic relative of parasitic apicomplexans, lacks complexes I and III, making it a uniquely reduced aerobic mitochondrion. In Chromera, putative lactate:cytochrome c oxidoreductases are predicted to transfer electrons from lactate to cytochrome c, rendering complex III unnecessary. The mitochondrial genome of Chromera has the smallest known protein-coding capacity of all mitochondria, encoding just cox1 and cox3 on heterogeneous linear molecules. In contrast, another photosynthetic relative of apicomplexans, Vitrella brassicaformis, retains the same set of genes as apicomplexans and dinoflagellates (cox1, cox3, and cob).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Flegontov
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Life Science Research Centre, Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Michálek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Janouškovec
- Department of Botany, University of BC, Vancouver, Canada Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - De-Hua Lai
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Jirků
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Hajdušková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Tomčala
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas D Otto
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of BC, Vancouver, Canada Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Arnab Pain
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Wisecaver JH, Brosnahan ML, Hackett JD. Horizontal gene transfer is a significant driver of gene innovation in dinoflagellates. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:2368-81. [PMID: 24259313 PMCID: PMC3879968 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The dinoflagellates are an evolutionarily and ecologically important group of microbial eukaryotes. Previous work suggests that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important source of gene innovation in these organisms. However, dinoflagellate genomes are notoriously large and complex, making genomic investigation of this phenomenon impractical with currently available sequencing technology. Fortunately, de novo transcriptome sequencing and assembly provides an alternative approach for investigating HGT. We sequenced the transcriptome of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense Group IV to investigate how HGT has contributed to gene innovation in this group. Our comprehensive A. tamarense Group IV gene set was compared with those of 16 other eukaryotic genomes. Ancestral gene content reconstruction of ortholog groups shows that A. tamarense Group IV has the largest number of gene families gained (314-1,563 depending on inference method) relative to all other organisms in the analysis (0-782). Phylogenomic analysis indicates that genes horizontally acquired from bacteria are a significant proportion of this gene influx, as are genes transferred from other eukaryotes either through HGT or endosymbiosis. The dinoflagellates also display curious cases of gene loss associated with mitochondrial metabolism including the entire Complex I of oxidative phosphorylation. Some of these missing genes have been functionally replaced by bacterial and eukaryotic xenologs. The transcriptome of A. tamarense Group IV lends strong support to a growing body of evidence that dinoflagellate genomes are extraordinarily impacted by HGT.
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Shinzato C, Mungpakdee S, Satoh N, Shoguchi E. A genomic approach to coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis: studies of Acropora digitifera and Symbiodinium minutum. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:336. [PMID: 25071748 PMCID: PMC4083563 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Far more intimate knowledge of scleractinian coral biology is essential in order to understand how diverse coral-symbiont endosymbioses have been established. In particular, molecular and cellular mechanisms enabling the establishment and maintenance of obligate endosymbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates require further clarification. By extension, such understanding may also shed light upon environmental conditions that promote the collapse of this mutualism. Genomic data undergird studies of all symbiotic processes. Here we review recent genomic data derived from the scleractinian coral, Acropora digitifera, and the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium minutum. We discuss Acropora genes involved in calcification, embryonic development, innate immunity, apoptosis, autophagy, UV resistance, fluorescence, photoreceptors, circadian clocks, etc. We also detail gene loss in amino acid metabolism that may explain at least part of the Acropora stress-response. Characteristic features of the Symbiodinium genome are also reviewed, focusing on the expansion of certain gene families, the molecular basis for permanently condensed chromatin, unique spliceosomal splicing, and unusual gene arrangement. Salient features of the Symbiodinium plastid and mitochondrial genomes are also illuminated. Although many questions regarding these interdependent genomes remain, we summarize information necessary for future studies of coral-dinoflagellate endosymbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuya Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Okinawa, Japan
| | - Sutada Mungpakdee
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Okinawa, Japan
| | - Nori Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Okinawa, Japan
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Okinawa, Japan
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Lukeš J, Skalický T, Týč J, Votýpka J, Yurchenko V. Evolution of parasitism in kinetoplastid flagellates. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 195:115-22. [PMID: 24893339 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid protists offer a unique opportunity for studying the evolution of parasitism. While all their close relatives are either photo- or phagotrophic, a number of kinetoplastid species are facultative or obligatory parasites, supporting a hypothesis that parasitism has emerged within this group of flagellates. In this review we discuss origin and evolution of parasitism in bodonids and trypanosomatids and specific adaptations allowing these protozoa to co-exist with their hosts. We also explore the limits of biodiversity of monoxenous (one host) trypanosomatids and some features distinguishing them from their dixenous (two hosts) relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Skalický
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Týč
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Jan Votýpka
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic; Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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45
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Pochon X, Putnam HM, Gates RD. Multi-gene analysis of Symbiodinium dinoflagellates: a perspective on rarity, symbiosis, and evolution. PeerJ 2014; 2:e394. [PMID: 24883254 PMCID: PMC4034598 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiodinium, a large group of dinoflagellates, live in symbiosis with marine protists, invertebrate metazoans, and free-living in the environment. Symbiodinium are functionally variable and play critical energetic roles in symbiosis. Our knowledge of Symbiodinium has been historically constrained by the limited number of molecular markers available to study evolution in the genus. Here we compare six functional genes, representing three cellular compartments, in the nine known Symbiodinium lineages. Despite striking similarities among the single gene phylogenies from distinct organelles, none were evolutionarily identical. A fully concatenated reconstruction, however, yielded a well-resolved topology identical to the current benchmark nr28S gene. Evolutionary rates differed among cellular compartments and clades, a pattern largely driven by higher rates of evolution in the chloroplast genes of Symbiodinium clades D2 and I. The rapid rates of evolution observed amongst these relatively uncommon Symbiodinium lineages in the functionally critical chloroplast may translate into potential innovation for the symbiosis. The multi-gene analysis highlights the potential power of assessing genome-wide evolutionary patterns using recent advances in sequencing technology and emphasizes the importance of integrating ecological data with more comprehensive sampling of free-living and symbiotic Symbiodinium in assessing the evolutionary adaptation of this enigmatic dinoflagellate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Pochon
- Environmental Technologies, Cawthron Institute , Nelson , New Zealand
| | - Hollie M Putnam
- University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology , Kaneohe, HI , USA
| | - Ruth D Gates
- University of Hawaii, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology , Kaneohe, HI , USA
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Lee R, Lai H, Malik SB, Saldarriaga JF, Keeling PJ, Slamovits CH. Analysis of EST data of the marine protist Oxyrrhis marina, an emerging model for alveolate biology and evolution. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:122. [PMID: 24512041 PMCID: PMC3942190 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The alveolates include a large number of important lineages of protists and algae, among which are three major eukaryotic groups: ciliates, apicomplexans and dinoflagellates. Collectively alveolates are present in virtually every environment and include a vast diversity of cell shapes, molecular and cellular features and feeding modes including lifestyles such as phototrophy, phagotrophy/predation and intracellular parasitism, in addition to a variety of symbiotic associations. Oxyrrhis marina is a well-known model for heterotrophic protist biology, and is now emerging as a useful organism to explore the many changes that occurred during the origin and diversification of dinoflagellates by virtue of its phylogenetic position at the base of the dinoflagellate tree. RESULTS We have generated and analysed expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences from the alveolate Oxyrrhis marina in order to shed light on the evolution of a number of dinoflagellate characteristics, especially regarding the emergence of highly unusual genomic features. We found that O. marina harbours extensive gene redundancy, indicating high rates of gene duplication and transcription from multiple genomic loci. In addition, we observed a correlation between expression level and copy number in several genes, suggesting that copy number may contribute to determining transcript levels for some genes. Finally, we analyze the genes and predicted products of the recently discovered Dinoflagellate Viral Nuclear Protein, and several cases of horizontally acquired genes. CONCLUSION The dataset presented here has proven very valuable for studying this important group of protists. Our analysis indicates that gene redundancy is a pervasive feature of dinoflagellate genomes, thus the mechanisms involved in its generation must have arisen early in the evolution of the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renny Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H4R2 Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Hugo Lai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H4R2 Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Shehre Banoo Malik
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H4R2 Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Juan F Saldarriaga
- Botany Department, University of British Columbia, V6T1Z4 Vancouver, BS, Canada
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Alberta, Canada
- Botany Department, University of British Columbia, V6T1Z4 Vancouver, BS, Canada
| | - Claudio H Slamovits
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H4R2 Halifax, NS, Canada
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Bogen C, Al-Dilaimi A, Albersmeier A, Wichmann J, Grundmann M, Rupp O, Lauersen KJ, Blifernez-Klassen O, Kalinowski J, Goesmann A, Mussgnug JH, Kruse O. Reconstruction of the lipid metabolism for the microalga Monoraphidium neglectum from its genome sequence reveals characteristics suitable for biofuel production. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:926. [PMID: 24373495 PMCID: PMC3890519 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microalgae are gaining importance as sustainable production hosts in the fields of biotechnology and bioenergy. A robust biomass accumulating strain of the genus Monoraphidium (SAG 48.87) was investigated in this work as a potential feedstock for biofuel production. The genome was sequenced, annotated, and key enzymes for triacylglycerol formation were elucidated. RESULTS Monoraphidium neglectum was identified as an oleaginous species with favourable growth characteristics as well as a high potential for crude oil production, based on neutral lipid contents of approximately 21% (dry weight) under nitrogen starvation, composed of predominantly C18:1 and C16:0 fatty acids. Further characterization revealed growth in a relatively wide pH range and salt concentrations of up to 1.0% NaCl, in which the cells exhibited larger structures. This first full genome sequencing of a member of the Selenastraceae revealed a diploid, approximately 68 Mbp genome with a G + C content of 64.7%. The circular chloroplast genome was assembled to a 135,362 bp single contig, containing 67 protein-coding genes. The assembly of the mitochondrial genome resulted in two contigs with an approximate total size of 94 kb, the largest known mitochondrial genome within algae. 16,761 protein-coding genes were assigned to the nuclear genome. Comparison of gene sets with respect to functional categories revealed a higher gene number assigned to the category "carbohydrate metabolic process" and in "fatty acid biosynthetic process" in M. neglectum when compared to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nannochloropsis gaditana, indicating a higher metabolic diversity for applications in carbohydrate conversions of biotechnological relevance. CONCLUSIONS The genome of M. neglectum, as well as the metabolic reconstruction of crucial lipid pathways, provides new insights into the diversity of the lipid metabolism in microalgae. The results of this work provide a platform to encourage the development of this strain for biotechnological applications and production concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bogen
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Arwa Al-Dilaimi
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Andreas Albersmeier
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Julian Wichmann
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Michael Grundmann
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Oliver Rupp
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Olga Blifernez-Klassen
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Goesmann
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Jan H Mussgnug
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
| | - Olaf Kruse
- Department of Biology/Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
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48
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Colponemids represent multiple ancient alveolate lineages. Curr Biol 2013; 23:2546-52. [PMID: 24316202 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.10.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The alveolates comprise three well-studied protist lineages of significant environmental, medical, and economical importance: apicomplexans (e.g., Plasmodium), dinoflagellates (e.g., Symbiodinium), and ciliates (e.g., Tetrahymena). These major lineages have evolved distinct and unusual characteristics, the origins of which have proved to be difficult evolutionary puzzles. Mitochondrial genomes are a prime example: all three groups depart from canonical form and content, but in different ways. Reconstructing such ancient transitions is difficult without deep-branching lineages that retain ancestral characteristics. Here we describe two such lineages and how they illuminate the ancestral state of alveolate mitochondrial genomes. We established five clonal cultures of colponemids, predatory alveolates without cultured representatives and molecular data. Colponemids represent at least two independent lineages at the phylum level in multilocus phylogenetic analysis; one sister to apicomplexans and dinoflagellates, and the other at a deeper position. A genome survey from one strain showed that ancestral state of the mitochondrial genomes in the three major alveolate lineages consisted of an unusual linear chromosome with telomeres and a substantially larger gene set than known alveolates. Colponemid sequences also identified several environmental lineages as colponemids, altogether suggesting an untapped potential for understanding the origin and evolution of apicomplexans, dinoflagellates, and ciliates.
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Cavalier-Smith T. Symbiogenesis: Mechanisms, Evolutionary Consequences, and Systematic Implications. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2013. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110411-160320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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50
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Kohli GS, Neilan BA, Brown MV, Hoppenrath M, Murray SA. Cobgene pyrosequencing enables characterization of benthic dinoflagellate diversity and biogeography. Environ Microbiol 2013; 16:467-85. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 09/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gurjeet S. Kohli
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3); University of Technology Sydney; Sydney New South Wales 2007 Australia
| | - Brett A. Neilan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Mark V. Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales 2052 Australia
| | - Mona Hoppenrath
- Senckenberg am Meer; Deutsches Zentrum für Marine Biodiversitätsforschung (DZMB); Wilhelmshaven 32689 Germany
| | - Shauna A. Murray
- Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences; Sydney New South Wales 2088 Australia
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3); University of Technology Sydney; Sydney New South Wales 2007 Australia
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