Chromerid genomes reveal the evolutionary path from photosynthetic algae to obligate intracellular parasites.

ABSTRACT: The eukaryotic phylum Apicomplexa encompasses thousands of obligate intracellular parasites of humans and animals with immense socio-economic and health impacts. We sequenced nuclear genomes of Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, free-living non-parasitic photosynthetic algae closely related to apicomplexans. Proteins from key metabolic pathways and from the endomembrane trafficking systems associated with a free-living lifestyle have been progressively and non-randomly lost during adaptation to parasitism. The free-living ancestor contained a broad repertoire of genes many of which were repurposed for parasitic processes, such as extracellular proteins, components of a motility apparatus, and DNA- and RNA-binding protein families. Based on transcriptome analyses across 36 environm

SUBMITTER: Woo YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4501334 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature