Repository logo
 

Identification of Sequences Encoding Symbiodinium minutum Mitochondrial Proteins.


Change log

Authors

Butterfield, Erin R 
Howe, Christopher J 
Nisbet, R Ellen R 

Abstract

The dinoflagellates are an extremely diverse group of algae closely related to the Apicomplexa and the ciliates. Much work has previously been undertaken to determine the presence of various biochemical pathways within dinoflagellate mitochondria. However, these studies were unable to identify several key transcripts including those encoding proteins involved in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis, and protein import. Here, we analyze the draft nuclear genome of the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium minutum, as well as RNAseq data to identify nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. The results confirm the presence of a complete tricarboxylic acid cycle in the dinoflagellates. Results also demonstrate the difficulties in using the genome sequence for the identification of genes due to the large number of introns, but show that it is highly useful for the determination of gene duplication events.

Description

Keywords

alveolate, chloroplast, dinoflagellate, metabolism, mitochondria, Citric Acid Cycle, Dinoflagellida, Introns, Mitochondrial Proteins, Protozoan Proteins, RNA, Messenger

Journal Title

Genome Biol Evol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1759-6653
1759-6653

Volume Title

8

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (094249/Z/10/Z)
We would like to thank Richard Dorrell (University of Cambridge) and Ross Waller (University of Cambridge) for useful discussions. This work was supported by a Wellcome Trust Project Grant [WT094249] to CJH and RERN; and an Australian Postgraduate Award to ERB.