Finding a partner in the ocean: molecular and evolutionary bases of the response to sexual cues in a planktonic diatom.

ABSTRACT: Microalgae play a major role as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Cell signalling regulates their interactions with the environment and other organisms, yet this process in phytoplankton is poorly defined. Using the marine planktonic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata, we investigated the cell response to cues released during sexual reproduction, an event that demands strong regulatory mechanisms and impacts on population dynamics. We sequenced the genome of P. multistriata and performed phylogenomic and transcriptomic analyses, which allowed the definition of gene gains and losses, horizontal gene transfers, conservation and evolutionary rate of sex-related genes. We also identified a small number of conserved noncoding elements. Sexual reproduction impacted on cell cycle progres

SUBMITTER: Basu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5485032 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature