Insights into transcriptional changes that accompany organelle sequestration from the stolen nucleus of Mesodinium rubrum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Organelle retention is a form of mixotrophy that allows organisms to reap metabolic benefits similar to those of photoautotrophs through capture of algal prey and sequestration of their plastids. Mesodinium rubrum is an abundant and broadly distributed photosynthetic marine ciliate that steals organelles from cryptophyte algae, such as Geminigera cryophila. M. rubrum is unique from most other acquired phototrophs because it also steals a functional nucleus that facilitates genetic control of sequestered plastids and other organelles. We analyzed changes in G. cryophila nuclear gene expression and transcript abundance after its incorporation into the cellular architecture of M. rubrum as an initial step towards understanding this complex system.

Methods

We compared

SUBMITTER: Lasek-Nesselquist E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4609049 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature