Evolution of multicellularity genes in Cyanobacteria in the lead up to the great oxidation event.

ABSTRACT: Cyanobacteria, considered responsible for the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) that shaped the Earth for the evolution of complex life, are among the most morphologically diverse prokaryotic phyla. Their morphotypes range from unicellular to multicellular filaments and, additionally, many filamentous cyanobacteria exhibit cellular differentiation processes. However, mechanisms underlying the evolution of filamentous morphologies remain unknown. Here, we implement phylogenomic, Bayesian molecular clock and gene-tree-species-tree reconciliation analyses to estimate when genes encoding cell-cell joining structures-involved in multicellularity-and cellular differentiation regulators first evolved. Our results suggest that genes encoding septal proteins (namely sepJ and sepI) and proteins potentiall

SUBMITTER: Boden JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12669612 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature