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Lin S. A decade of dinoflagellate genomics illuminating an enigmatic eukaryote cell. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:932. [PMID: 39367346 PMCID: PMC11453091 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10847-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are a remarkable group of protists, not only for their association with harmful algal blooms and coral reefs but also for their numerous characteristics deviating from the rules of eukaryotic biology. Genome research on dinoflagellates has lagged due to their immense genome sizes in most species (~ 1-250 Gbp). Nevertheless, the last decade marked a fruitful era of dinoflagellate genomics, with 27 genomes sequenced and many insights attained. This review aims to synthesize information from these genomes, along with other omic data, to reflect on where we are now in understanding dinoflagellates and where we are heading in the future. The most notable insights from the decade-long genomics work include: (1) dinoflagellate genomes have been expanded in multiple times independently, probably by a combination of rampant retroposition, accumulation of repetitive DNA, and genome duplication; (2) Symbiodiniacean genomes are highly divergent, but share about 3,445 core unigenes concentrated in 219 KEGG pathways; (3) Most dinoflagellate genes are encoded unidirectionally and are not intron-poor; (4) The dinoflagellate nucleus has undergone extreme evolutionary changes, including complete or nearly complete loss of nucleosome and histone H1, and acquisition of dinoflagellate viral nuclear protein (DVNP); (5) Major basic nuclear protein (MBNP), histone-like protein (HLP), and bacterial HU-like protein (HCc) belong to the same protein family, and MBNP can be the unifying name; (6) Dinoflagellate gene expression is regulated by poorly understood mechanisms, but microRNA and other epigenetic mechanisms are likely important; (7) Over 50% of dinoflagellate genes are "dark" and their functions remain to be deciphered using functional genetics; (8) Initial insights into the genomic basis of parasitism and mutualism have emerged. The review then highlights functionally unique and interesting genes. Future research needs to obtain a finished genome, tackle large genomes, characterize the unknown genes, and develop a quantitative molecular ecological model for addressing ecological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT, 06340, USA.
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2
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Locatelli NS, Baums IB. Genomes of the Caribbean reef-building corals Colpophyllia natans, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Siderastrea siderea. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.21.608299. [PMID: 39229226 PMCID: PMC11370458 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.21.608299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Corals populations worldwide are declining rapidly due to elevated ocean temperatures and other human impacts. The Caribbean harbors a high number of threatened, endangered, and critically endangered coral species compared to reefs of the larger Indo-Pacific. The reef corals of the Caribbean are also long diverged from their Pacific counterparts and may have evolved different survival strategies. Most genomic resources have been developed for Pacific coral species which may impede our ability to study the changes in genetic composition of Caribbean reef communities in response to global change. To help fill the gap in genomic resources, we used PacBio HiFi sequencing to generate the first genome assemblies for three Caribbean, reef-building corals, Colpophyllia natans, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Siderastrea siderea. We also explore the genomic novelties that shape scleractinian genomes. Notably, we find abundant gene duplications of all classes (e.g., tandem and segmental), especially in S. siderea. This species has one of the largest genomes of any scleractinian coral (822Mb) which seems to be driven by repetitive content and gene family expansion and diversification. As the genome size of S. siderea was double the size expected of stony corals, we also evaluated the possibility of an ancient whole genome duplication using Ks tests and found no evidence of such an event in the species. By presenting these genome assemblies, we hope to develop a better understanding of coral evolution as a whole and to enable researchers to further investigate the population genetics and diversity of these three species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas S Locatelli
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Iliana B Baums
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Ammerländer, Heerstraße 231, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen Bremerhaven, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), School of Mathematics and Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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3
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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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Shah S, Dougan KE, Chen Y, Lo R, Laird G, Fortuin MDA, Rai SK, Murigneux V, Bellantuono AJ, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Bhattacharya D, Chan CX. Massive genome reduction predates the divergence of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae059. [PMID: 38655774 PMCID: PMC11114475 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates in the family Symbiodiniaceae are taxonomically diverse, predominantly symbiotic lineages that are well-known for their association with corals. The ancestor of these taxa is believed to have been free-living. The establishment of symbiosis (i.e. symbiogenesis) is hypothesized to have occurred multiple times during Symbiodiniaceae evolution, but its impact on genome evolution of these taxa is largely unknown. Among Symbiodiniaceae, the genus Effrenium is a free-living lineage that is phylogenetically positioned between two robustly supported groups of genera within which symbiotic taxa have emerged. The apparent lack of symbiogenesis in Effrenium suggests that the ancestral features of Symbiodiniaceae may have been retained in this lineage. Here, we present de novo assembled genomes (1.2-1.9 Gbp in size) and transcriptome data from three isolates of Effrenium voratum and conduct a comparative analysis that includes 16 Symbiodiniaceae taxa and the other dinoflagellates. Surprisingly, we find that genome reduction, which is often associated with a symbiotic lifestyle, predates the origin of Symbiodiniaceae. The free-living lifestyle distinguishes Effrenium from symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae vis-à-vis their longer introns, more-extensive mRNA editing, fewer (~30%) lineage-specific gene sets, and lower (~10%) level of pseudogenization. These results demonstrate how genome reduction and the adaptation to distinct lifestyles intersect to drive diversification and genome evolution of Symbiodiniaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Shah
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Katherine E Dougan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yibi Chen
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Rosalyn Lo
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gemma Laird
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Michael D A Fortuin
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Subash K Rai
- Genome Innovation Hub, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Valentine Murigneux
- Genome Innovation Hub, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Anthony J Bellantuono
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33099, United States
| | - Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33099, United States
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Dougan KE, Deng ZL, Wöhlbrand L, Reuse C, Bunk B, Chen Y, Hartlich J, Hiller K, John U, Kalvelage J, Mansky J, Neumann-Schaal M, Overmann J, Petersen J, Sanchez-Garcia S, Schmidt-Hohagen K, Shah S, Spröer C, Sztajer H, Wang H, Bhattacharya D, Rabus R, Jahn D, Chan CX, Wagner-Döbler I. Multi-omics analysis reveals the molecular response to heat stress in a "red tide" dinoflagellate. Genome Biol 2023; 24:265. [PMID: 37996937 PMCID: PMC10666404 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND "Red tides" are harmful algal blooms caused by dinoflagellate microalgae that accumulate toxins lethal to other organisms, including humans via consumption of contaminated seafood. These algal blooms are driven by a combination of environmental factors including nutrient enrichment, particularly in warm waters, and are increasingly frequent. The molecular, regulatory, and evolutionary mechanisms that underlie the heat stress response in these harmful bloom-forming algal species remain little understood, due in part to the limited genomic resources from dinoflagellates, complicated by the large sizes of genomes, exhibiting features atypical of eukaryotes. RESULTS We present the de novo assembled genome (~ 4.75 Gbp with 85,849 protein-coding genes), transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome from Prorocentrum cordatum, a globally abundant, bloom-forming dinoflagellate. Using axenic algal cultures, we study the molecular mechanisms that underpin the algal response to heat stress, which is relevant to current ocean warming trends. We present the first evidence of a complementary interplay between RNA editing and exon usage that regulates the expression and functional diversity of biomolecules, reflected by reduction in photosynthesis, central metabolism, and protein synthesis. These results reveal genomic signatures and post-transcriptional regulation for the first time in a pelagic dinoflagellate. CONCLUSIONS Our multi-omics analyses uncover the molecular response to heat stress in an important bloom-forming algal species, which is driven by complex gene structures in a large, high-G+C genome, combined with multi-level transcriptional regulation. The dynamics and interplay of molecular regulatory mechanisms may explain in part how dinoflagellates diversified to become some of the most ecologically successful organisms on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Dougan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Zhi-Luo Deng
- Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstraße 7, Braunschweig, 38124, Germany
| | - Lars Wöhlbrand
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Reuse
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Boyke Bunk
- German Culture Collection for Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Yibi Chen
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Juliane Hartlich
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Karsten Hiller
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Uwe John
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), Ammerländer Heerstraße 231, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jana Kalvelage
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Mansky
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Meina Neumann-Schaal
- German Culture Collection for Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- German Culture Collection for Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörn Petersen
- German Culture Collection for Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Selene Sanchez-Garcia
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmidt-Hohagen
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Sarah Shah
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Cathrin Spröer
- German Culture Collection for Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Helena Sztajer
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Hui Wang
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Ralf Rabus
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Jahn
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Irene Wagner-Döbler
- Braunschweig Center for Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106, Brunswick, Germany.
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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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Roussel A, Mériot V, Jauffrais T, Berteaux-Lecellier V, Lebouvier N. OMICS Approaches to Assess Dinoflagellate Responses to Chemical Stressors. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1234. [PMID: 37759633 PMCID: PMC10525455 DOI: 10.3390/biology12091234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are important primary producers known to form Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs). In water, nutrient availability, pH, salinity and anthropogenic contamination constitute chemical stressors for them. The emergence of OMICs approaches propelled our understanding of dinoflagellates' responses to stressors. However, in dinoflagellates, these approaches are still biased, as transcriptomic approaches are largely conducted compared to proteomic and metabolomic approaches. Furthermore, integrated OMICs approaches are just emerging. Here, we report recent contributions of the different OMICs approaches to the investigation of dinoflagellates' responses to chemical stressors and discuss the current challenges we need to face to push studies further despite the lack of genomic resources available for dinoflagellates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Roussel
- ISEA, EA7484, Campus de Nouville, Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie, Noumea 98851, New Caledonia; (A.R.); (V.M.)
| | - Vincent Mériot
- ISEA, EA7484, Campus de Nouville, Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie, Noumea 98851, New Caledonia; (A.R.); (V.M.)
- Ifremer, IRD, CNRS, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. de la Nouvelle Calédonie, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, Noumea 98897, New Caledonia;
| | - Thierry Jauffrais
- Ifremer, IRD, CNRS, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. de la Nouvelle Calédonie, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, Noumea 98897, New Caledonia;
| | - Véronique Berteaux-Lecellier
- CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. de la Nouvelle Calédonie, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, Noumea 98897, New Caledonia;
| | - Nicolas Lebouvier
- ISEA, EA7484, Campus de Nouville, Université de la Nouvelle Calédonie, Noumea 98851, New Caledonia; (A.R.); (V.M.)
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Cho Y, Tsuchiya S, Omura T, Koike K, Konoki K, Oshima Y, Yotsu-Yamashita M. Metabolic inhibitor induces dynamic changes in saxitoxin biosynthesis and metabolism in the dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum (Group IV) under in vivo labeling condition. HARMFUL ALGAE 2023; 122:102372. [PMID: 36754461 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2022.102372] [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: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In paralytic shellfish toxin-producing dinoflagellates, intracellular levels of saxitoxin and its analogues (STXs) are controlled by a balance between degradation and biosynthesis in response to marine environmental fluctuations and stresses. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility of statistical analysis of in vivo labeling data for the dynamic analysis of variations in toxin production under stress. A toxic strain of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum (Group IV) was cultured in colchicine-containing 15N-labeled sodium nitrate-medium and metabolite levels were analyzed over time by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Quantitative values of all isotopomers of precursor amino acids, biosynthetic intermediates, and major STXs were subjected to statistical analysis. The decrease of the nitrogen incorporation rates for all compounds suggested that colchicine decreased nitrate assimilation upstream of glutamate biosynthesis. In colchicine-treated cultures, the per-cell content of total STX analogues did not change significantly over time; however, the production rate of each pathway varied greatly. De novo STX biosynthesis was decreased by colchicine until Day 3, while the salvage pathway was not. Subsequently, biosynthesis by both pathways was enhanced. This analysis of dynamic metabolism provides new insights into the complex mechanisms regulating STX metabolism in dinoflagellates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Cho
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8572, Japan.
| | - Shigeki Tsuchiya
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8572, Japan
| | - Takuo Omura
- Laboratory of Aquatic Science Consultant Co., LTD. 2-30-17, Higashikamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-0031, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Keiichi Konoki
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8572, Japan
| | - Yasukatsu Oshima
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan
| | - Mari Yotsu-Yamashita
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8572, Japan
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Dinoflagellate Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase (PPTase) and Thiolation Domain Interactions Characterized Using a Modified Indigoidine Synthesizing Reporter. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040687. [PMID: 35456738 PMCID: PMC9027781 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic dinoflagellates synthesize many toxic but also potential therapeutic compounds therapeutics via polyketide/non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, a common means of producing natural products in bacteria and fungi. Although canonical genes are identifiable in dinoflagellate transcriptomes, the biosynthetic pathways are obfuscated by high copy numbers and fractured synteny. This study focuses on the carrier domains that scaffold natural product synthesis (thiolation domains) and the phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTases) that thiolate these carriers. We replaced the thiolation domain of the indigoidine producing BpsA gene from Streptomyces lavendulae with those of three multidomain dinoflagellate transcripts and coexpressed these constructs with each of three dinoflagellate PPTases looking for specific pairings that would identify distinct pathways. Surprisingly, all three PPTases were able to activate all the thiolation domains from one transcript, although with differing levels of indigoidine produced, demonstrating an unusual lack of specificity. Unfortunately, constructs with the remaining thiolation domains produced almost no indigoidine and the thiolation domain for lipid synthesis could not be expressed in E. coli. These results combined with inconsistent protein expression for different PPTase/thiolation domain pairings present technical hurdles for future work. Despite these challenges, expression of catalytically active dinoflagellate proteins in E. coli is a novel and useful tool going forward.
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Abstract
Covering: 2020This review covers the literature published in 2020 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 757 citations (747 for the period January to December 2020) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1407 in 420 papers for 2020), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. A meta analysis of bioactivity data relating to new MNPs reported over the last five years is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Carroll
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. .,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Enivironment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert A Keyzers
- Centre for Biodiscovery, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Shoguchi E. Gene clusters for biosynthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids in dinoflagellate nuclear genomes: Possible recent horizontal gene transfer between species of Symbiodiniaceae (Dinophyceae). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2022; 58:1-11. [PMID: 34699617 PMCID: PMC9298759 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Global warming increases the temperature of the ocean surface, which can disrupt dinoflagellate-coral symbioses and result in coral bleaching. Photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae include bleaching-tolerant and bleaching-sensitive coral symbionts. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms for changing symbiont diversity is potentially useful to assist recovery of coral holobionts (corals and their associated microbes, including multiple species of Symbiodiniaceae), although sexual reproduction has not been observed in the Symbiodiniaceae. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses estimate that the Symbiodiniaceae appeared 160 million years ago and diversified into 15 groups, five genera of which now have available draft genomes (i.e., Symbiodinium, Durusdinium, Breviolum, Fugacium, and Cladocopium). Comparative genomic analyses have suggested that crown groups have fewer gene families than early-diverging groups, although many genes that were probably acquired via gene duplications and horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) have been found in each decoded genome. Because UV stress is likely a contributor to coral bleaching, and because the highly conserved gene cluster for mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA) biosynthesis has been found in thermal-tolerant symbiont genomes, I reviewed genomic features of the Symbiodiniaceae, focusing on possible acquisition of a biosynthetic gene cluster for MAAs, which absorb UV radiation. On the basis of highly conserved noncoding sequences, I hypothesized that HGTs have occurred among members of the Symbiodiniaceae and have contributed to the diversification of Symbiodiniaceae-host relationships. Finally, I proposed that bleaching tolerance may be strengthened by multiple MAAs from both symbiotic dinoflagellates and corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics UnitOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate UniversityOnnaOkinawa904‐0495Japan
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12
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Medema MH, de Rond T, Moore BS. Mining genomes to illuminate the specialized chemistry of life. Nat Rev Genet 2021; 22:553-571. [PMID: 34083778 PMCID: PMC8364890 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-021-00363-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
All organisms produce specialized organic molecules, ranging from small volatile chemicals to large gene-encoded peptides, that have evolved to provide them with diverse cellular and ecological functions. As natural products, they are broadly applied in medicine, agriculture and nutrition. The rapid accumulation of genomic information has revealed that the metabolic capacity of virtually all organisms is vastly underappreciated. Pioneered mainly in bacteria and fungi, genome mining technologies are accelerating metabolite discovery. Recent efforts are now being expanded to all life forms, including protists, plants and animals, and new integrative omics technologies are enabling the increasingly effective mining of this molecular diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnix H Medema
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tristan de Rond
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bradley S Moore
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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13
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Insights into Alexandrium minutum Nutrient Acquisition, Metabolism and Saxitoxin Biosynthesis through Comprehensive Transcriptome Survey. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090826. [PMID: 34571703 PMCID: PMC8465370 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Alexandrium minutum is one of the causing organisms for the occurrence of harmful algae bloom (HABs) in marine ecosystems. This species produces saxitoxin, one of the deadliest neurotoxins which can cause human mortality. However, molecular information such as genes and proteins catalog on this species is still lacking. Therefore, this study has successfully characterized several new molecular mechanisms regarding A. minutum environmental adaptation and saxitoxin biosynthesis. Ultimately, this study provides a valuable resource for facilitating future dinoflagellates’ molecular response to environmental changes. Abstract The toxin-producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum is responsible for the outbreaks of harmful algae bloom (HABs). It is a widely distributed species and is responsible for producing paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins. However, the information associated with the environmental adaptation pathway and toxin biosynthesis in this species is still lacking. Therefore, this study focuses on the functional characterization of A. minutum unigenes obtained from transcriptome sequencing using the Illumina Hiseq 4000 sequencing platform. A total of 58,802 (47.05%) unigenes were successfully annotated using public databases such as NCBI-Nr, UniprotKB, EggNOG, KEGG, InterPRO and Gene Ontology (GO). This study has successfully identified key features that enable A. minutum to adapt to the marine environment, including several carbon metabolic pathways, assimilation of various sources of nitrogen and phosphorus. A. minutum was found to encode homologues for several proteins involved in saxitoxin biosynthesis, including the first three proteins in the pathway of saxitoxin biosynthesis, namely sxtA, sxtG and sxtB. The comprehensive transcriptome analysis presented in this study represents a valuable resource for understanding the dinoflagellates molecular metabolic model regarding nutrient acquisition and biosynthesis of saxitoxin.
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Williams EP, Bachvaroff TR, Place AR. A Global Approach to Estimating the Abundance and Duplication of Polyketide Synthase Domains in Dinoflagellates. Evol Bioinform Online 2021; 17:11769343211031871. [PMID: 34345159 PMCID: PMC8283056 DOI: 10.1177/11769343211031871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many dinoflagellate species make toxins in a myriad of different molecular configurations but the underlying chemistry in all cases is presumably via modular synthases, primarily polyketide synthases. In many organisms modular synthases occur as discrete synthetic genes or domains within a gene that act in coordination thus forming a module that produces a particular fragment of a natural product. The modules usually occur in tandem as gene clusters with a syntenic arrangement that is often predictive of the resultant structure. Dinoflagellate genomes however are notoriously complex with individual genes present in many tandem repeats and very few synthetic modules occurring as gene clusters, unlike what has been seen in bacteria and fungi. However, modular synthesis in all organisms requires a free thiol group that acts as a carrier for sequential synthesis called a thiolation domain. We scanned 47 dinoflagellate transcriptomes for 23 modular synthase domain models and compared their abundance among 10 orders of dinoflagellates as well as their co-occurrence with thiolation domains. The total count of domain types was quite large with over thirty-thousand identified, 29 000 of which were in the core dinoflagellates. Although there were no specific trends in domain abundance associated with types of toxins, there were readily observable lineage specific differences. The Gymnodiniales, makers of long polyketide toxins such as brevetoxin and karlotoxin had a high relative abundance of thiolation domains as well as multiple thiolation domains within a single transcript. Orders such as the Gonyaulacales, makers of small polyketides such as spirolides, had fewer thiolation domains but a relative increase in the number of acyl transferases. Unique to the core dinoflagellates, however, were thiolation domains occurring alongside tetratricopeptide repeats that facilitate protein-protein interactions, especially hexa and hepta-repeats, that may explain the scaffolding required for synthetic complexes capable of making large toxins. Clustering analysis for each type of domain was also used to discern possible origins of duplication for the multitude of single domain transcripts. Single domain transcripts frequently clustered with synonymous domains from multi-domain transcripts such as the BurA and ZmaK like genes as well as the multi-ketosynthase genes, sometimes with a large degree of apparent gene duplication, while fatty acid synthesis genes formed distinct clusters. Surprisingly the acyl-transferases and ketoreductases involved in fatty acid synthesis (FabD and FabG, respectively) were found in very large clusters indicating an unprecedented degree of gene duplication for these genes. These results demonstrate a complex evolutionary history of core dinoflagellate modular synthases with domain specific duplications throughout the lineage as well as clues to how large protein complexes can be assembled to synthesize the largest natural products known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest P Williams
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technologies, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tsvetan R Bachvaroff
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technologies, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allen R Place
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technologies, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Shoguchi E, Beedessee G, Hisata K, Tada I, Narisoko H, Satoh N, Kawachi M, Shinzato C. A New Dinoflagellate Genome Illuminates a Conserved Gene Cluster Involved in Sunscreen Biosynthesis. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 13:5955767. [PMID: 33146374 PMCID: PMC7875005 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the Family Symbiodiniaceae live symbiotically with many organisms that inhabit coral reefs and are currently classified into fifteen groups, including seven genera. Draft genomes from four genera, Symbiodinium, Breviolum, Fugacium, and Cladocopium, which have been isolated from corals, have been reported. However, no genome is available from the genus Durusdinium, which occupies an intermediate phylogenetic position in the Family Symbiodiniaceae and is well known for thermal tolerance (resistance to bleaching). We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the genome of Durusdinium trenchii, isolated from the coral, Favia speciosa, in Okinawa, Japan. Assembled short reads amounted to 670 Mb with ∼47% GC content. This GC content was intermediate among taxa belonging to the Symbiodiniaceae. Approximately 30,000 protein-coding genes were predicted in the D. trenchii genome, fewer than in other genomes from the Symbiodiniaceae. However, annotations revealed that the D. trenchii genome encodes a cluster of genes for synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids, which absorb UV radiation. Interestingly, a neighboring gene in the cluster encodes a glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductase with a flavin adenine dinucleotide domain that is also found in Symbiodinium tridacnidorum. This conservation seems to partially clarify an ancestral genomic structure in the Symbiodiniaceae and its loss in late-branching lineages, including Breviolum and Cladocopium, after splitting from the Durusdinium lineage. Our analysis suggests that approximately half of the taxa in the Symbiodiniaceae may maintain the ability to synthesize mycosporine-like amino acids. Thus, this work provides a significant genomic resource for understanding the genomic diversity of Symbiodiniaceae in corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Girish Beedessee
- 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
| | - Ipputa Tada
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan.,Department of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Haruhi Narisoko
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kawachi
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan.,Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
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Beedessee G, Kubota T, Arimoto A, Nishitsuji K, Waller RF, Hisata K, Yamasaki S, Satoh N, Kobayashi J, Shoguchi E. Integrated omics unveil the secondary metabolic landscape of a basal dinoflagellate. BMC Biol 2020; 18:139. [PMID: 33050904 PMCID: PMC7557087 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00873-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some dinoflagellates cause harmful algal blooms, releasing toxic secondary metabolites, to the detriment of marine ecosystems and human health. Our understanding of dinoflagellate toxin biosynthesis has been hampered by their unusually large genomes. To overcome this challenge, for the first time, we sequenced the genome, microRNAs, and mRNA isoforms of a basal dinoflagellate, Amphidinium gibbosum, and employed an integrated omics approach to understand its secondary metabolite biosynthesis. RESULTS We assembled the ~ 6.4-Gb A. gibbosum genome, and by probing decoded dinoflagellate genomes and transcriptomes, we identified the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase adenylation domain as essential for generation of specialized metabolites. Upon starving the cells of phosphate and nitrogen, we observed pronounced shifts in metabolite biosynthesis, suggestive of post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs. Using Iso-Seq and RNA-seq data, we found that alternative splicing and polycistronic expression generate different transcripts for secondary metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Our genomic findings suggest intricate integration of various metabolic enzymes that function iteratively to synthesize metabolites, providing mechanistic insights into how dinoflagellates synthesize secondary metabolites, depending upon nutrient availability. This study provides insights into toxin production associated with dinoflagellate blooms. The genome of this basal dinoflagellate provides important clues about dinoflagellate evolution and overcomes the large genome size, which has been a challenge previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish Beedessee
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
- Present address: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.
| | - Takaaki Kubota
- Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8543, Japan
| | - Asuka Arimoto
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
- Marine Biological Laboratory, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Onomichi, Hiroshima, 722-0073, Japan
| | - Koki Nishitsuji
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Kanako Hisata
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Shinichi Yamasaki
- DNA Sequencing Section, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Jun'ichi Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
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