Why It Is Time to Look Beyond Algal Genes in Photosynthetic Slugs

Genome Biology and Evolution
Cessa RauchSven B Gould

Abstract

Eukaryotic organelles depend on nuclear genes to perpetuate their biochemical integrity. This is true for mitochondria in all eukaryotes and plastids in plants and algae. Then how do kleptoplasts, plastids that are sequestered by some sacoglossan sea slugs, survive in the animals' digestive gland cells in the absence of the algal nucleus encoding the vast majority of organellar proteins? For almost two decades, lateral gene transfer (LGT) from algae to slugs appeared to offer a solution, but RNA-seq analysis, later supported by genome sequencing of slug DNA, failed to find any evidence for such LGT events. Yet, isolated reports continue to be published and are readily discussed by the popular press and social media, making the data on LGT and its support for kleptoplast longevity appear controversial. However, when we take a sober look at the methods used, we realize that caution is warranted in how the results are interpreted. There is no evidence that the evolution of kleptoplasty in sea slugs involves LGT events. Based on what we know about photosystem maintenance in embryophyte plastids, we assume kleptoplasts depend on nuclear genes. However, studies have shown that some isolated algal plastids are, by nature, more robust ...Continue Reading

References

Mar 15, 1972·Nature: New Biology·K L Giles, V Sarafis
Sep 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W MartinR Cerff
May 12, 2000·Plant Physiology·M E RumphoJ R Manhart
Feb 15, 2003·Plant Physiology·Rupali BhaleraoStefan Jansson
Jan 22, 2004·Nature Reviews. Genetics·Jeremy N TimmisWilliam Martin
Dec 18, 2004·Biotechnology Letters·Lenka PolanskáRadomíra Vanková
Dec 3, 2009·Frontiers in Zoology·Katharina HändelerHeike Wägele
Feb 4, 2010·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Eva C M Nowack, Michael Melkonian
Feb 20, 2010·PLoS Genetics·Einat Hazkani-CovoWilliam Martin
Dec 24, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Mary E RumphoDebashish Bhattacharya
Dec 14, 2011·European Journal of Protistology·Masahiro Fujishima, Yuuki Kodama
Jul 13, 2013·Journal of Experimental Botany·Sónia CruzPaulo Cartaxana
Dec 18, 2013·Genome Biology and Evolution·Jan de VriesSven B Gould
Jan 10, 2014·Frontiers in Zoology·Matthias F Wucherer, Nico K Michiels
Jan 10, 2014·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Luis Boto
Apr 3, 2014·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·Geoffrey I McFadden
Apr 29, 2014·Trends in Plant Science·Jan de VriesSven B Gould
Jul 23, 2014·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Jeffrey B WoodruffAnthony A Hyman
Jan 21, 2015·Scientific Reports·Sónia CruzMary E Rumpho
Feb 6, 2015·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jan de VriesSven B Gould
Aug 20, 2015·Nature·Chuan KuWilliam F Martin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 18, 2016·Trends in Microbiology·Eduardo CorelEric Bapteste
Jan 27, 2016·Current Biology : CB·E Toby Kiers, Stuart A West
Aug 21, 2019·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Elisabeth HehenbergerPatrick J Keeling
May 14, 2020·Genome Biology and Evolution·Shannon J Sibbald, John M Archibald
Sep 8, 2019·Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie·Melanie WagnerUlrich Otto
Jul 23, 2019·Science Advances·Niels W L Van SteenkisteBrian S Leander

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
RNA-seq
RNAseq

Software Mentioned

Altmetric

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.