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© 2015, Woo et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

The eukaryotic phylum Apicomplexa encompasses thousands of obligate intracellular parasites of humans and animals with immense socio-economic and health impacts. We sequenced nuclear genomes of Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis, free-living non-parasitic photosynthetic algae closely related to apicomplexans. Proteins from key metabolic pathways and from the endomembrane trafficking systems associated with a free-living lifestyle have been progressively and non-randomly lost during adaptation to parasitism. The free-living ancestor contained a broad repertoire of genes many of which were repurposed for parasitic processes, such as extracellular proteins, components of a motility apparatus, and DNA- and RNA-binding protein families. Based on transcriptome analyses across 36 environmental conditions, Chromera orthologs of apicomplexan invasion-related motility genes were co-regulated with genes encoding the flagellar apparatus, supporting the functional contribution of flagella to the evolution of invasion machinery. This study provides insights into how obligate parasites with diverse life strategies arose from a once free-living phototrophic marine alga.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06974.001

Details

Title
Chromerid genomes reveal the evolutionary path from photosynthetic algae to obligate intracellular parasites
Author
Woo, Yong H; Ansari Hifzur; Otto, Thomas D; Klinger, Christen M; Kolisko Martin; Michálek, Jan; Saxena Alka; Shanmugam Dhanasekaran; Annageldi, Tayyrov; Alaguraj, Veluchamy; Ali Shahjahan; Bernal Axel; del Campo Javier; Cihlář Jaromír; Flegontov Pavel; Gornik, Sebastian G; Hajdušková Eva; Horák Aleš; Janouškovec Jan; Katris, Nicholas J; Mast, Fred D; Miranda-Saavedra, Diego; Mourier Tobias; Raeece, Naeem; Nair Mridul; Panigrahi, Aswini K; Rawlings, Neil D; Padron-Regalado Eriko; Ramaprasad Abhinay; Samad Nadira; Tomčala Aleš; Wilkes, Jon; Neafsey, Daniel E; Doerig, Christian; Bowler, Chris; Keeling, Patrick J; Roos, David S; Dacks, Joel B; Templeton, Thomas J; Waller, Ross F; Lukeš Julius; Oborník Miroslav; Pain Arnab
University/institution
U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine
Publication year
2015
Publication date
2015
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd.
e-ISSN
2050084X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1966515862
Copyright
© 2015, Woo et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.