Nutrient-driven genome evolution revealed by comparative genomics of chrysomonad flagellates.

ABSTRACT: Phototrophic eukaryotes have evolved mainly by the primary or secondary uptake of photosynthetic organisms. A return to heterotrophy occurred multiple times in various protistan groups such as Chrysophyceae, despite the expected advantage of autotrophy. It is assumed that the evolutionary shift to mixotrophy and further to heterotrophy is triggered by a differential importance of nutrient and carbon limitation. We sequenced the genomes of 16 chrysophyte strains and compared them in terms of size, function, and sequence characteristics in relation to photo-, mixo- and heterotrophic nutrition. All strains were sequenced with Illumina and partly with PacBio. Heterotrophic taxa have reduced genomes and a higher GC content of up to 59% as compared to phototrophic taxa. Heterotrophs have a large

SUBMITTER: Majda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7954800 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature