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Related Experiment Videos

Recycled plastids: a 'green movement' in eukaryotic evolution.

John M Archibald1, Patrick J Keeling

  • 1Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Dept Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. jarch@interchange.ubc.ca

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|November 5, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Secondary endosymbiosis, the transfer of plastids (chloroplasts) between eukaryotes, is rare, with few events shaping algal diversity. These events also impact non-photosynthetic organisms, revealing evolutionary links and potential relict plastids.

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Area of Science:

  • Eukaryotic cell biology
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Phycology (study of algae)

Background:

  • Secondary endosymbiosis is a key evolutionary process where one eukaryote engulfs another, leading to the acquisition of plastids (chloroplasts).
  • Understanding the frequency and participants of secondary endosymbiotic events is crucial for reconstructing eukaryotic evolutionary history.
  • Plastids are vital organelles responsible for photosynthesis in algae and plants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the frequency and impact of secondary endosymbiotic events in eukaryotic evolution.
  • To investigate the diversity of algal lineages that originated from secondary endosymbiosis.
  • To explore the broader evolutionary consequences of secondary endosymbiosis beyond photosynthesis.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Phylogenetic analyses using molecular data to reconstruct plastid evolutionary history.
  • Comparative genomics to identify plastid-derived genes in host organisms.
  • Bioinformatic approaches to analyze gene content and evolutionary trajectories.

    • Main Results:

    • Molecular data suggest secondary endosymbiosis is a rare event in eukaryotic evolution.
    • As few as three independent endosymbiotic events may account for a significant portion of algal diversity.
    • Non-photosynthetic eukaryotes, such as ciliates, may have evolved from photosynthetic ancestors and retain plastid-derived elements.

    Conclusions:

    • Secondary endosymbiosis, though rare, has profoundly shaped algal evolution and diversity.
    • The evolutionary legacy of endosymbiosis extends to non-photosynthetic lineages, highlighting complex gene transfer and organelle evolution.
    • Further research into plastid-derived genes and relict plastids in diverse eukaryotes is warranted.