Localization and evolution of septins in algae |
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Authors: | Tomokazu Yamazaki Satomi Owari Shuhei Ota Nobuko Sumiya Maki Yamamoto Koichi Watanabe Tamotsu Nagumo Shinichi Miyamura Shigeyuki Kawano |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, , Kashiwa, Chiba, 277‐8562 Japan;2. Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, , Kashiwa, Chiba, 277‐8562 Japan;3. Institute of Natural Sciences, Senshu University, , Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214‐8580 Japan;4. Department of Biology, The Nippon Dental University, , Fujimi, Chiyoda‐ku, Tokyo, 102‐8159 Japan;5. Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, , Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305‐8572 Japan |
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Abstract: | Septins are a group of GTP‐binding proteins that are multi‐functional, with a well‐known role in cytokinesis in animals and fungi. Although the functions of septins have been thoroughly studied in opisthokonts (fungi and animals), the function and evolution of plant/algal septins are not as well characterized. Here we describe septin localization and expression in the green algae Nannochloris bacillaris and Marvania geminata. The present data suggest that septins localize at the division site when cytokinesis occurs. In addition, we show that septin homologs may be found only in green algae, but not in other major plant lineages, such as land plants, red algae and glaucophytes. We also found other septin homolog‐possessing organisms among the diatoms, Rhizaria and cryptomonad/haptophyte lineages. Our study reveals the potential role of algal septins in cytokinesis and/or cell elongation, and confirms that septin genes appear to have been lost in the Plantae lineage, except in some green algae. |
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Keywords: | green algae
Marvania geminata
Nannochloris bacillaris
algal septins septin phylogeny |
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