Microbial Eukaryote loverA quick guide to understand purple photosymbioses and its key partners.
Paper alert ๐จ
A novel origin of eukaryotic apocarotenoid biosynthesis in Aurantiochytrium limacinum ATCC MYA-1381appears to be the result of horizontal gene transfer from Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and/or Archaea
'Horizontal gene transfer and fusion spread carotenogenesis among diverse heterotrophic protists'
Paper alert ๐จ
Estudying potential events early in the process of complex plastid acquisition to understand how symbiotic relationships evolve
"Functional control and metabolic integration of stolen organelles in a photosynthetic ciliate"
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.01.027
#protists #MicrobialEukaryotes
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"Cytokinesis in Trypanosoma brucei relies on an orphan kinesin that dynamically crosslinks microtubules"
Paper alert ๐จ
Besides typical MRO functions are predicted. The MRO in Paramikrocytos canceri appears to produce ATP via a partial glycolytic pathway and synthesize phospholipids de novo through the CDP-DAG pathway. This would be the first case of a mitosome-like organelle able to synthesize phospholipids de novo.
'A mitosome with distinct metabolism in the uncultured protist parasite Paramikrocytos canceri (Rhizaria, Ascetosporea)'
Paper alert ๐จ
Three new genera are proposed to accommodate the Hodotermopsis sjostedti symbionts, as well as, two new species of Spirotrichonympha
'Molecular Phylogeny of Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia) with Emphasis on Spironympha, Spirotrichonympha, and Three New Genera Pseudospironympha, Nanospironympha, and Brugerollina'
Paper alert ๐จ
Polyketide compounds and their analogues cause shellfish poisoning, and dinoflagellates may utilize a combination of Type I multi-domain and single-domain PKS proteins to synthesize them.
'Transcriptomic analysis of polyketide synthesis in dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum lima'
#protists #MicrobialEukaryotes
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2023.102391
Dayana E. Salas-Leiva ๐Our paper on a few draft genomes of Blastocystis it out!
If you're interested:
'Draft genomes of Blastocystis subtypes from human samples of Colombia'
Draft genomes of Blastocystis subtypes from human samples of Colombia - Parasites & Vectors
Background Blastocystis is one of the most common eukaryotic microorganisms colonizing the intestines of both humans and animals, but the conditions under which it may be a pathogen are unclear. Methods To study the genomic characteristics of circulating subtypes (ST) in Colombia, we established nine xenic cultures from Blastocystis isolated from human fecal samples, we identified 10 different subtypes, since one sample had a mixed infection. Thus, the genomes of the subtypes ST1 (nโ=โ3), ST2 (nโ=โ1), ST3 (nโ=โ2), ST6 (nโ=โ1), ST7 (nโ=โ1), and ST8 (nโ=โ2) were sequenced using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). Results Analyses of these draft nuclear genomes indicated remarkable diversity in terms of genome size and guanine-cytosine (GC) content among the compared STs. Illumina sequencing-only draft genomes contained 824 to 2077 scaffolds, with total genome size ranging from 12 to 13.2 Mb and N50 values ranging from 10,585 to 29,404 base pairs (bp). The genome of one ST1 isolate was sequenced using ONT. This assembly was more contiguous, with a size of 20 million base pairs (Mb) spread over 116 scaffolds, and an N50 of 248,997 bp. Conclusion This work represents one of the few large-scale comparative genomic analyses of Blastocystis isolates, providing an additional glimpse into its genomic diversity. Graphical Abstract
Book chapter ๐จ
'Cycling Within a Cell: Cell Cycle of Intracellular Kinetoplastid Parasites'
Paper alert ๐จ
This transcriptomics study identifies some proteins that appear to have relevant functional roles in dictyostellium's organelles.
'Endosomal vesicle fusion machinery is involved with the contractile vacuole in Dictyostelium discoideum'
https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.260477
#protists #MicrobialEukaryotes
Endosomal vesicle fusion machinery is involved with the contractile vacuole in Dictyostelium discoideum
Contractile vacuoles (CVs) share common characteristics, such as a requirement for RAB11 and high levels of V-ATPase. These commonalities suggest a conserved evolutionary origin for the CVs with implications for understanding of the last common ancestor of eukaryotes and eukaryotic diversification more broadly. A taxonomically broader sampling of CV associated machinery is required to address this question further. We used a transcriptomics-based approach to identify CV associated gene products in Dictyostelium discoideum. This approach was first validated by assessing a set of known CV associated gene products, which were significantly upregulated following hypo-osmotic exposure. Moreover, endosomal and vacuolar gene products were enriched in the upregulated gene set. An upregulated SNARE protein (NPSN) was predominantly plasma membrane localised and enriched in the vicinity of contractile vacuoles, supporting its transcriptomic association with this organelle. We therefore confirm that transcriptomic approaches can identify known and novel players in CV function, in our case emphasizing the role of endosomal vesicle fusion machinery in the D. discoideum CV and facilitating future work to address questions regarding the deep evolution of eukaryotic organelles.