A Transcriptome-based Perspective of Cell Cycle Regulation in Dinoflagellates
David Morse1, Philip Daoust1, Siham Benribague1
1Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H1X 2B2.
Protist
|November 7, 2016
Summary
This study investigated cell cycle regulation in dinoflagellates, finding most yeast cell cycle regulators have homologs. This suggests yeast models can help understand dinoflagellate cell cycles and red tide blooms.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Protistology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Dinoflagellates are unicellular marine protists known for causing red tides.
- Understanding dinoflagellate cell cycle regulation is crucial due to their bloom-forming nature.
- Little is currently known about the molecular mechanisms governing dinoflagellate cell division.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and conservation of cell cycle regulators in dinoflagellates.
- To assess the suitability of the budding yeast model for studying dinoflagellate cell cycles.
- To identify key components involved in dinoflagellate cell cycle control.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome screening of Lingulodinium polyedrum and Symbiodinium sp.
- Comparative analysis with budding yeast cell cycle pathway components.
- Phylogenetic analyses of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclins.
Main Results:
- Most budding yeast cell cycle regulators have homologs in dinoflagellates, supporting the use of yeast models.
- Dinoflagellates lack some yeast-essential cell cycle components, but these are also absent in many other protists.
- Phylogenetic analyses identified at least three CDK families (CDK1, CDK5, CDK8) and exclusively A/B type cyclins in dinoflagellates.
Conclusions:
- The budding yeast model is appropriate for studying dinoflagellate cell cycle regulation.
- Dinoflagellate CDKs likely have specialized roles primarily in cell cycle control.
- Further research can leverage conserved pathways to understand dinoflagellate proliferation and red tide dynamics.
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