Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Dinophysis </it>is exceptional among dinoflagellates, possessing plastids derived from cryptophyte algae. Although <it>Dinophysis </it>can be maintained in pure culture for several months, the genus is mix...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2010-06-01
|
| Series: | BMC Genomics |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/366 |
| _version_ | 1818345863409303552 |
|---|---|
| author | Hackett Jeremiah D Wisecaver Jennifer H |
| author_facet | Hackett Jeremiah D Wisecaver Jennifer H |
| author_sort | Hackett Jeremiah D |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Dinophysis </it>is exceptional among dinoflagellates, possessing plastids derived from cryptophyte algae. Although <it>Dinophysis </it>can be maintained in pure culture for several months, the genus is mixotrophic and needs to feed either to acquire plastids (a process known as kleptoplastidy) or obtain growth factors necessary for plastid maintenance. <it>Dinophysis </it>does not feed directly on cryptophyte algae, but rather on a ciliate (<it>Myrionecta rubra</it>) that has consumed the cryptophytes and retained their plastids. Despite the apparent absence of cryptophyte nuclear genes required for plastid function, <it>Dinophysis </it>can retain cryptophyte plastids for months without feeding.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To determine if this dinoflagellate has nuclear-encoded genes for plastid function, we sequenced cDNA from <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it>, its ciliate prey <it>M. rubra</it>, and the cryptophyte source of the plastid <it>Geminigera cryophila</it>. We identified five proteins complete with plastid-targeting peptides encoded in the nuclear genome of <it>D. acuminata </it>that function in photosystem stabilization and metabolite transport. Phylogenetic analyses show that the genes are derived from multiple algal sources indicating some were acquired through horizontal gene transfer.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that <it>D. acuminata </it>has some functional control of its plastid, and may be able to extend the useful life of the plastid by replacing damaged transporters and protecting components of the photosystem from stress. However, the dearth of plastid-related genes compared to other fully phototrophic algae suggests that <it>D. acuminata </it>does not have the nuclear repertoire necessary to maintain the plastid permanently.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:09:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91ccbc6d95ef403ab571d46ad27b7db2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:09:08Z |
| publishDate | 2010-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-91ccbc6d95ef403ab571d46ad27b7db22022-12-21T23:37:36ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642010-06-0111136610.1186/1471-2164-11-366Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it>Hackett Jeremiah DWisecaver Jennifer H<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Dinophysis </it>is exceptional among dinoflagellates, possessing plastids derived from cryptophyte algae. Although <it>Dinophysis </it>can be maintained in pure culture for several months, the genus is mixotrophic and needs to feed either to acquire plastids (a process known as kleptoplastidy) or obtain growth factors necessary for plastid maintenance. <it>Dinophysis </it>does not feed directly on cryptophyte algae, but rather on a ciliate (<it>Myrionecta rubra</it>) that has consumed the cryptophytes and retained their plastids. Despite the apparent absence of cryptophyte nuclear genes required for plastid function, <it>Dinophysis </it>can retain cryptophyte plastids for months without feeding.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To determine if this dinoflagellate has nuclear-encoded genes for plastid function, we sequenced cDNA from <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it>, its ciliate prey <it>M. rubra</it>, and the cryptophyte source of the plastid <it>Geminigera cryophila</it>. We identified five proteins complete with plastid-targeting peptides encoded in the nuclear genome of <it>D. acuminata </it>that function in photosystem stabilization and metabolite transport. Phylogenetic analyses show that the genes are derived from multiple algal sources indicating some were acquired through horizontal gene transfer.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that <it>D. acuminata </it>has some functional control of its plastid, and may be able to extend the useful life of the plastid by replacing damaged transporters and protecting components of the photosystem from stress. However, the dearth of plastid-related genes compared to other fully phototrophic algae suggests that <it>D. acuminata </it>does not have the nuclear repertoire necessary to maintain the plastid permanently.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/366 |
| spellingShingle | Hackett Jeremiah D Wisecaver Jennifer H Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it> BMC Genomics |
| title | Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it> |
| title_full | Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it> |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it> |
| title_short | Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate <it>Dinophysis acuminata</it> |
| title_sort | transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate it dinophysis acuminata it |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/366 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hackettjeremiahd transcriptomeanalysisrevealsnuclearencodedproteinsforthemaintenanceoftemporaryplastidsinthedinoflagellateitdinophysisacuminatait AT wisecaverjenniferh transcriptomeanalysisrevealsnuclearencodedproteinsforthemaintenanceoftemporaryplastidsinthedinoflagellateitdinophysisacuminatait |