biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)Hongo YCross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, Cabinet Office, Government of JapanToxic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Dinophysis acquire plastids indirectly from cryptophytes through the consumption of the ciliate Mesodinium rubrum. Dinophysis acuminata harbours three genes encoding plastid-related proteins, which are thought to have originated from fucoxanthin dinoflagellates, haptophytes and cryptophytes via lateral gene transfer (LGT). Here, we investigate the origin of these plastid proteins via RNA sequencing of species related to D. fortii. We identified 58 gene products involved in porphyrin, chlorophyll, isoprenoid and carotenoid biosyntheses as well as in photosynthesis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genes associated with chlorophyll and carotenoid biosyntheses and photosynthesis originated from fucoxanthin dinoflagellates, haptophytes, chlorScientific reports9009https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6588620biostudies-literatureGenes functioned in kleptoplastids of Dinophysis are derived from haptophytes rather than from cryptophytes.PMC6588620Hongo YFujikura KYabuki ANagai SfalseGenes functioned in kleptoplastids of Dinophysis are derived from haptophytes rather than from cryptophytes.Toxic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Dinophysis acquire plastids indirectly from cryptophytes through the consumption of the ciliate Mesodinium rubrum. Dinophysis acuminata harbours three genes encoding plastid-related proteins, which are thought to have originated from fucoxanthin dinoflagellates, haptophytes and cryptophytes via lateral gene transfer (LGT). Here, we investigate the origin of these plastid proteins via RNA sequencing of species related to D. fortii. We identified 58 gene products involved in porphyrin, chlorophyll, isoprenoid and carotenoid biosyntheses as well as in photosynthesis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genes associated with chlorophyll and carotenoid biosyntheses and photosynthesis originated from fucoxanthin dinoflagellates, haptophytes, chlor2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Jun2026-05-07T05:18:59.566Z2019-07-24T07:26:10ZS-EPMC65886203122773710.1038/s41598-019-45326-5