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Wang H, Wu P, Xiong L, Kim HS, Kim JH, Ki JS. Nuclear genome of dinoflagellates: Size variation and insights into evolutionary mechanisms. Eur J Protistol 2024; 93:126061. [PMID: 38394997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126061] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Recent progress in high-throughput sequencing technologies has dramatically increased availability of genome data for prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Dinoflagellates have distinct chromosomes and a huge genome size, which make their genomic analysis complicated. Here, we reviewed the nuclear genomes of core dinoflagellates, focusing on the genome and cell size. Till now, the genome sizes of several dinoflagellates (more than 25) have been measured by certain methods (e.g., flow cytometry), showing a range of 3-250 pg of genomic DNA per cell. In contrast to their relatively small cell size, their genomes are huge (about 1-80 times the human haploid genome). In the present study, we collected the genome and cell size data of dinoflagellates and compared their relationships. We found that dinoflagellate genome size exhibits a positive correlation with cell size. On the other hand, we recognized that the genome size is not correlated with phylogenetic relatedness. These may be caused by genome duplication, increased gene copy number, repetitive non-coding DNA, transposon expansion, horizontal gene transfer, organelle-to-nucleus gene transfer, and/or mRNA reintegration into the genome. Ultimate verification of these factors as potential causative mechanisms would require sequencing of more dinoflagellate genomes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea
| | - Peiling Wu
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Lu Xiong
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Han-Sol Kim
- Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Ho Kim
- Department of Earth and Marine Science, College of Ocean Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Seu Ki
- Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea; Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea.
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Graff van Creveld S, Ben-Dor S, Mizrachi A, Alcolombri U, Hopes A, Mock T, Rosenwasser S, Vardi A. Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Redox-Regulated Metacaspase in a Marine Diatom. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:688199. [PMID: 34566902 PMCID: PMC8455989 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.688199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) in marine microalgae was suggested to be one of the mechanisms that facilitates bloom demise, yet its molecular components in phytoplankton are unknown. Phytoplankton are completely lacking any of the canonical components of PCD, such as caspases, but possess metacaspases. Metacaspases were shown to regulate PCD in plants and some protists, but their roles in algae and other organisms are still elusive. Here, we identified and biochemically characterized a type III metacaspase from the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, termed PtMCA-IIIc. Through expression of recombinant PtMCA-IIIc in E. coli, we revealed that PtMCA-IIIc exhibits a calcium-dependent protease activity, including auto-processing and cleavage after arginine. Similar metacaspase activity was detected in P. tricornutum cell extracts. PtMCA-IIIc overexpressing cells exhibited higher metacaspase activity, while CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout cells had decreased metacaspase activity compared to WT cells. Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteines that were predicted to form a disulfide bond decreased recombinant PtMCA-IIIc activity, suggesting its enhancement under oxidizing conditions. One of those cysteines was oxidized, detected in redox proteomics, specifically in response to lethal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and a diatom derived aldehyde. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this cysteine-pair is unique and widespread among diatom type III metacaspases. The characterization of a cell death associated protein in diatoms provides insights into the evolutionary origins of PCD and its ecological significance in algal bloom dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiri Graff van Creveld
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Avia Mizrachi
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Uria Alcolombri
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute for Environmental Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amanda Hopes
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Shilo Rosenwasser
- Robert H. Smith Faculty of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Assaf Vardi
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Wang H, Ki JS. Identification of a Metacaspase Gene in the Bloom-Forming Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and its Putative Function Involved in Programmed Cell Death. Curr Microbiol 2021; 78:3577-3585. [PMID: 34313813 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02617-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) in dinoflagellates has been introduced as a new concept that facilitates the demise of harmful algal blooms. Metacaspases (MCAs) play a role in PCD, but their function in dinoflagellates is unclear. Here, we cloned a novel MCA gene (PmMCA) from the harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and examined its molecular characteristics and gene expression during cell death. The gene was encoded in the nuclear genome with two introns. The putative protein contained 288 amino acids and three conserved MCA signature motifs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PmMCA may have the same ancestor as other dinoflagellates. PmMCA expression and cell apoptosis were significantly induced under copper exposure, considerably affecting cell growth. These results suggest that PmMCA could be involved in PCD triggered by copper stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jang-Seu Ki
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea.
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Cell Death and Metabolic Stress in Gymnodinium catenatum Induced by Allelopathy. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070506. [PMID: 34357978 PMCID: PMC8310274 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Allelopathy between phytoplankton species can promote cellular stress and programmed cell death (PCD). The raphidophyte Chattonella marina var. marina, and the dinoflagellates Margalefidinium polykrikoides and Gymnodinium impudicum have allelopathic effects on Gymnodinium catenatum; however, the physiological mechanisms are unknown. We evaluated whether the allelopathic effect promotes cellular stress and activates PCD in G. catenatum. Cultures of G. catenatum were exposed to cell-free media of C. marina var. marina, M. polykrikoides and G. impudicum. The mortality, superoxide radical (O2●-) production, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, protein content, and caspase-3 activity were quantified. Mortality (between 57 and 79%) was registered in G. catenatum after exposure to cell-free media of the three species. The maximal O2●- production occurred with C. marina var. marina cell-free media. The highest TBARS levels and SOD activity in G. catenatum were recorded with cell-free media from G. impudicum. The highest protein content was recorded with cell-free media from M. polykrikoides. All cell-free media caused an increase in the activity of caspase-3. These results indicate that the allelopathic effect in G. catenatum promotes cell stress and caspase-3 activation, as a signal for the induction of programmed cell death.
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Characterization and Ca2+-induced expression of calmodulin (CaM) in marine dinoflagellates. Eur J Protistol 2021; 77:125765. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ndhlovu A, Durand PM, Ramsey G. Programmed cell death as a black queen in microbial communities. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:1110-1119. [PMID: 33253458 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) in unicellular organisms is in some instances an altruistic trait. When the beneficiaries are clones or close kin, kin selection theory may be used to explain the evolution of the trait, and when the trait evolves in groups of distantly related individuals, group or multilevel selection theory is invoked. In mixed microbial communities, the benefits are also available to unrelated taxa. But the evolutionary ecology of PCD in communities is poorly understood. Few hypotheses have been offered concerning the community role of PCD despite its far-reaching effects. The hypothesis we consider here is that PCD is a black queen. The Black Queen Hypothesis (BQH) outlines how public goods arising from a leaky function are exploited by other taxa in the community. Black Queen (BQ) traits are essential for community survival, but only some members bear the cost of possessing them, while others lose the trait In addition, BQ traits have been defined in terms of adaptive gene loss, and it is unknown whether this has occurred for PCD. Our conclusion is that PCD fulfils the two most important criteria of a BQ (leakiness and costliness), but that more empirical data are needed for assessing the remaining two criteria. In addition, we hold that for viewing PCD as a BQ, the original BQH needs to include social traits. Thus, despite some empirical and conceptual shortcomings, the BQH provides a helpful avenue for investigating PCD in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Ndhlovu
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pierre M Durand
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Grant Ramsey
- Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Wang H, Kim H, Ki JS. Transcriptome survey and toxin measurements reveal evolutionary modification and loss of saxitoxin biosynthesis genes in the dinoflagellates Amphidinium carterae and Prorocentrum micans. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 195:110474. [PMID: 32200147 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we characterized the potential toxin genes for polyketide synthase (PKS) and saxitoxin (STX) biosynthesis using the transcriptomes of two non-STX producing dinoflagellates Amphidinium carterae and Prorocentrum micans. RNA sequencing revealed 94 and 166 PKS contigs in A. carterae and P. micans, respectively. We first detected type III PKS, which was closely related to bacteria. In addition, dozens of homologs of 20 STX biosynthesis genes were identified. Interestingly, the core STX-synthesizing genes sxtA and sxtB were only found in P. micans, whereas sxtD was detected in A. carterae alone. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the first two core genes (sxtA and sxtG) had a low sequence similarity (37.0-67.6%) and different domain organization compared to those of other toxigenic dinoflagellates, such as Alexandrium pacificum. These might result in the breakdown of the initial reactions in STX production and ultimately the loss of the ability to synthesize the toxins in both dinoflagellates. Our findings suggest that toxin-related PKS and sxt genes are commonly found in non-STX producing dinoflagellates. In addition to their involvement in the synthesis of toxins, our result indicates that genes may also have other molecular metabolic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea
| | - Hansol Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea
| | - Jang-Seu Ki
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea.
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Wang H, Guo R, Lim WA, Allen AE, Ki JS. Comparative transcriptomics of toxin synthesis genes between the non-toxin producing dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides and toxigenic Alexandrium pacificum. HARMFUL ALGAE 2020; 93:101777. [PMID: 32307068 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2020.101777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we extensively characterized potential toxin-related genes, including polyketide synthase (PKS), saxitoxin (STX) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) from the non-toxin producing marine dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides, comparing to those of a toxigenic dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum. RNA sequencing revealed 50 and 271 PKS contigs from C. polykrikoides and A. pacificum, respectively. According to domain constitute and amino acid alteration, we further classified the dinoflagellate type I PKS genes into 4 sub-groups. Type III PKS was first identified in C. polykrikoides. Interestingly, we detected a large number (242 and 288) of homologs of 18 sxt genes from two studied dinoflagellates. Most of the eight key genes (sxtA, sxtB, sxtD, sxtG, sxtH/T, sxtI, sxtS and sxtU) for STX synthesis were detected in both dinoflatellates, whereas a core STX biosynthesis gene sxtG was not detected in C. polykrikoides. This may partially explain the absence of saxitoxin production in C. polykrikoides. In addition, we identified several type I and type II FAS genes, including FabD, FabF, FabG, FabH, FabI, and FabZ, whereas FabB was not found in C. polykrikoides. Overall, the numbers of the toxin-related genes in C. polykrikoides were less than that of A. pacificum. Phylogenetic analyses showed that type I PKS/FASs of dinoflagellates had close relationships with apicomplexans and bacteria. These suggest that the toxin-related PKS and sxt genes are commonly present in toxigenic and non-toxin producing dinoflagellates, and may be involved not only in the toxin synthesis, but also in other related molecular metabolic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea
| | - Ruoyu Guo
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, State Oceanic Administration & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, PR China
| | - Weol-Ae Lim
- Ocean Climate and Ecology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Busan 46083, South Korea
| | - Andrew E Allen
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jang-Seu Ki
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea.
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Wang H, Kim H, Lim WA, Ki JS. Molecular cloning and oxidative-stress responses of a novel manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:5955-5966. [PMID: 31407247 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-05029-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Dinoflagellate algae are microeukaryotes that have distinct genomes and gene regulation systems, making them an interesting model for studying protist evolution and genomics. In the present study, we discovered a novel manganese superoxide dismutase (PmMnSOD) gene from the marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum, examined its molecular characteristics, and evaluated its transcriptional responses to the oxidative stress-inducing contaminants, CuSO4 and NaOCl. Its cDNA was 1238 bp and contained a dinoflagellate spliced leader sequence, a 906 bp open reading frame (301 amino acids), and a poly (A) tail. The gene was coded on the nuclear genome with one 174 bp intron; signal peptide analysis showed that it might be localized to the mitochondria. Real-time PCR analysis revealed an increase in gene expression of MnSOD and SOD activity when P. minimum cells were separately exposed to CuSO4 and NaOCl. In addition, both contaminants considerably decreased chlorophyll autofluorescence, and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that dinoflagellate MnSOD may be involved in protecting cells against oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea
| | - Hansol Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea
| | - Weol-Ae Lim
- Ocean Climate and Ecology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Busan, 46083, South Korea
| | - Jang-Seu Ki
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 03016, South Korea.
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Wang H, Abassi S, Ki JS. Origin and roles of a novel copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) gene from the harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. Gene 2018; 683:113-122. [PMID: 30304703 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) acts as the first line of defence against reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells. In this study, we characterized a novel SOD gene (PmCuZnSOD) from the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum, and examined its structural features, putative origin and gene expression. The SOD cDNA is 895 bp in length, containing dinoflagellate splice-leader (dinoSL) sequence, 714-bp ORF (237 aa), and poly (A) tail. In addition, PmCuZnSOD is coded on the dinoflagellate nuclear genome without introns and in a non-tandem repeat manner; however, the encoded protein is probably localized in chloroplasts. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that it might be acquired from cyanobacteria via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and then the gene possibly relocated from the chloroplast to the nuclear genome. Excess copper dramatically increased the PmCuZnSOD transcripts and SOD activity in cells, caused by ROS generation and decrease of photosynthetic efficiency in the treated cells. These suggest that CuZnSOD may function to defend against oxidative stress for the survival of the dinoflagellate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea
| | - Sofia Abassi
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea
| | - Jang-Seu Ki
- Department of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea.
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