Molecular, morphological and phylogenetic characterization of six chlorarachniophyte strains

We compare and contrast the morphological and molecular features of six chlorarachniophyte strains, and examine their evolutionary origins. Electron microscopical studies of nucleomorphs and chloroplasts, characterization of nucleomorph karyotypes, and phylogenetic analyses of small subunit ribosomal RNA (srRNA) genes derived from the nucleomorph and host cell genomes have been used to separate the six strains into three distinct groups. One group, dubbed the‘beast group’, contains the strains Chlorarachnion sp. 242, Chlor-arachnion sp. 621, Chlorarachnion sp. 1408 and Chlorarachnion sp. 1481. Members of the beast group have a novel flagellate form and are apparently picoplank-tonic. The other two groups currently contain only one species each: Chlorarachnion reptans and Lotharella sp. 240. All chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs examined house three small linear chromosomes each furnished with telomeres and srRNA genes.     

The origin of red algae and cryptomonad nucleomorphs: A comparative phylogeny based on small and large subunit rRNA sequences of Palmaria palmata, Gracilaria verrucosa, and the Guillardia theta nucleomorph

The complete large subunit rRNA sequences from the red algae Palmaria palmata and Gracilaria verrucosa, and from the nucleomorph of the cryptomonad Guillardia theta, were determined in order to assess their phylogenetic relationships relative to each other and to other eukaryotes. Neighbor-joining, maximum-parsimony, and maximum-likelihood trees were constructed on the basis of small subunit rRNA, large subunit rRNA, and a combination of both molecules. Our results support the hypothesis that the cryptomonad plastid is derived from a primitive red alga, in that an ancient common ancestor of rhodophytes and cryptomonad nucleomorphs is indicated. This cluster shows some affinity with chlorobionts, which could point to a monophyletic origin of green and red plastids. However, the exact branching order of the crown eukaryotes remains uncertain and further research is required.     

Making new out of old: recycling and modification of an ancient protein translocation system during eukaryotic evolution. Mechanistic comparison and phylogenetic analysis of ERAD, SELMA and the peroxisomal importomer

At first glance the three eukaryotic protein translocation machineries--the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) transport apparatus of the endoplasmic reticulum, the peroxisomal importomer and SELMA, the pre-protein translocator of complex plastids--appear quite different. However, mechanistic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses presented here suggest that all three translocation machineries share a common ancestral origin, which highlights the recycling of pre-existing components as an effective evolutionary driving force. Editor's suggested further reading in BioEssays ERAD ubiquitin ligases Abstract.     

Phylogenetic analysis of cpDNA restriction sites andrps16 intron sequences reveals relationships among Apiaceae tribes Caucalideae, Scandiceae and related taxa

Evolutionary relationships among members of Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) tribe Caucalideae Spreng. and related taxa were inferred from maximum parsimony analyses of chloroplast DNA restriction sites andrps16 intron sequences and the results compared to an existing phylogeny for the group based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences. While these three data sets were not similar in size or composition, the relationships among the shared taxa, with few exceptions, were concordant. Three major lineages are recognized, coinciding with the previously delimited Scandiceae subtribes Daucinae Dumort. (Agrocharis, Ammodaucus, Cuminum, Daucus, Orlaya, Pachyctenium, Pseudorlaya), Torilidinae Dumort. (Astrodaucus, Caucalis, Glochidotheca, Lisaea, Szovitsia, Torilis, Turgenia, Yabea), and Scandicinae Tausch (Anthriscus, Kozlovia, Myrrhis, Osmorhiza, Scandix). Included in Daucinae is representation from tribe Laserpitieae (Laser, Laserpitium, Melanoselinum, Monizia, Polylophium). Daucinae and Torilidinae arise as sister taxa in the chloroplast DNA-based phylogenies, whereas in the ITS trees relationships among the three major lineages are unresolved. Unexpectedly, three species ofFerula ally with Daucinae and Torilidinae. The position ofArtedia is equivocal, occurring either sister to Daucinae in the ITS trees, within Torilidinae in the intron trees, or sister to Torilidinae upon analysis of combined ITS and intron data.Chaetosciadium trichospermum emerges withinTorilis, and is recognized asTorilis trichosperma (L.) Spreng.