plastid Archives

Phylogenetic tree placing cryptophyte NMs among Archaeplastida. (a) Maximum likelihood (LG + C60 + G + F) phylogenetic tree constructed from a concatenation of 180 nucleus/nucleomorph‐encoded proteins (51 610 positions, 54 taxa). Branch support values are derived from Bayesian posterior probability (CAT‐GTR) and maximum likelihood ultrafast and nonparametric bootstrap. (b) Completeness of the individual datasets shown as a schematic representation of the complete supermatrix alignment (gaps in white, taxa with a large number of gaps correspond to genomes with low sequence coverage). The conspicuous block of missing data in C. mesostigmatica is related to the previously reported lineage‐specific loss of proteasome‐related genes in this genome (Moore et al., 2012).-- New Phytologist

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release

Nucleomorph Phylogenomics Suggests A Deep And Ancient Origin Of Cryptophyte Plastids Within Rhodophyta

by Keith CowingJune 16, 2026June 16, 2026

The evolutionary origin of red algae‐derived complex plastids remains obscure. Cryptophyta, one of four eukaryotic lineages harboring these plastids, still contains nucleomorphs, which are highly reduced remnants of red algal […]

Bright field microscopic image corresponding to pTERF image showing control S. cerevisiae cox 2-60, and chimeras S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynJEC3, S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynBD2, S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynBD3 and S. cerevisiae cox2-60-SynBD8. Marged image of bright field chimeric cells (at gray) and pTIRF (X100) microscopic images can be predicted using 561 nm laser for visualization of endosymbiont autofluorescence chlorophyl (in red Em.=653/95 nm) from photosynthetically enabled engineered Syn. No such signal was detected from control yeast cells. SP8 Fluorescent confocal microscopic (x63) image of control S. cerevisiae cox 2–60, and endosymbiontic chimera. Marged images: host cell was stained using Conn A-FITC (emission at 510–520 nm wavelength, in green) and cyanobacterial autofluorescence can detected at 616-650 nm wavelength range. The experiment was repeated three times independently with similar results. -- Nature

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

New Insight Into Chloroplast Evolution

by Keith CowingDecember 12, 2024December 12, 2024

One of the most momentous events in the history of life involved endosymbiosis — a process by which one organism engulfed another and, instead of ingesting it, incorporated its DNA […]