Ice-Binding Proteins in a Chrysophycean Snow Alga: Acquisition of an Essential Gene by Horizontal Gene Transfer.

ABSTRACT: All ice-associated algae examined so far have genes for ice-binding proteins (IBPs), which suggest that these proteins are essential for survival in icy habitats. The most common type of IBP, type 1 IBPs (also referred to as DUF3494 IBPs), is also found in ice-associated bacteria and fungi. Previous studies have suggested that algal IBP genes were acquired by horizontal transfer from other microorganisms (probably bacteria). However, it remains unclear whether this is also the case for algae distantly related to the ones examined so far and whether microorganisms other than bacteria could be the donors. Furthermore, there is only limited evidence that these proteins are expressed at low temperature. Here, we show that Kremastochrysopsis austriaca (Chrysophyceae), an Austrian snow al

SUBMITTER: Raymond JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6892780 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature