Novel Insights on Obligate Symbiont Lifestyle and Adaptation to Chemosynthetic Environment as Revealed by the Giant Tubeworm Genome.

ABSTRACT: The mutualism between the giant tubeworm Riftia pachyptila and its endosymbiont Candidatus Endoriftia persephone has been extensively researched over the past 40 years. However, the lack of the host whole-genome information has impeded the full comprehension of the genotype/phenotype interface in Riftia. Here, we described the high-quality draft genome of Riftia, its complete mitogenome, and tissue-specific transcriptomic data. The Riftia genome presents signs of reductive evolution, with gene family contractions exceeding expansions. Expanded gene families are related to sulfur metabolism, detoxification, antioxidative stress, oxygen transport, immune system, and lysosomal digestion, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to the vent environment and endosymbiosis. Despite the derived body pl

SUBMITTER: de Oliveira AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8789280 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature