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Related Experiment Videos

Chimeric conundra: are nucleomorphs and chromists monophyletic or polyphyletic?

T Cavalier-Smith1, M T Allsopp, E E Chao

  • 1Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Evolutionary Biology Program, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 22, 1994
PubMed
Summary

The study suggests cryptomonad and chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs may share a common chimeric ancestor, challenging the idea of separate algal endosymbiosis events. This implies a single origin for certain complex algal cell structures.

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Genomic reduction and evolution of novel genetic membranes and protein-targeting machinery in eukaryote-eukaryote chimaeras (meta-algae).

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2003

Area of Science:

  • Eukaryotic cell evolution
  • Endosymbiosis
  • Algal phylogeny

Background:

  • Algae with chloroplasts within extra membranes likely originated from chimeric fusion of eukaryote cells.
  • Cryptomonads (phylum Cryptista) and Chlorarachniophyta retain nucleomorphs, DNA relics of algal endosymbiont nuclei.
  • Traditionally, these groups are thought to have acquired chloroplasts through independent symbiotic events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phylogenetic relationship between cryptomonad and chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs.
  • To explore the evolutionary origins of chimeric algal cells and chloroplast acquisition.
  • To re-evaluate the classification of chromophyte algae based on evolutionary history.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing of nuclear and nucleomorph 18S rRNA genes from the nonphotosynthetic cryptomonad Chilomonas paramecium.

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  • Phylogenetic analysis of obtained rRNA gene sequences.
  • Comparison with existing phylogenetic data for related algal groups.

    • Main Results:

    • Phylogenetic analysis suggests potential relatedness between cryptomonad and chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs.
    • This finding raises the possibility of a common ancestral chimeric cell originating from a single endosymbiosis event.
    • Evidence is insufficient to definitively overturn the traditional view of separate evolutionary origins for Chlorarachnion nucleomorphs.

    Conclusions:

    • The study supports a single endosymbiotic origin for cryptomonad and chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs, related to red algae ancestors.
    • Chromophyte algae (Cryptista, Heterokonta, Haptophyta, Dinozoa) appear distantly related, suggesting polyphyly.
    • Chloroplasts were likely acquired independently by these four phyla after their divergence, supporting their classification as separate kingdoms.