Mitochondria are eukaryotic organelles that originated from an endosymbiotic α-proteobacterium. As an adaptation to maximize ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondria contain inner membrane invaginations called cristae. Recent work has characterized a multi-protein complex in yeast and animal mitochondria called MICOS (mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system), responsible for the determination and maintenance of cristae [1-4]. However, the origin and…
May 2015 archive
May 22
Dual Organellar Targeting of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Diatoms and Cryptophytes
The internal compartmentation of eukaryotic cells not only allows separation of biochemical processes but it also creates the requirement for systems that can selectively transport proteins across the membrane boundaries. Although most proteins function in a single subcellular compartment, many are able to enter two or more compartments, a phenomenon known as dual or multiple targeting. The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), which catalyze the ligation of tRNAs to their cognate amino acids, are…
May 21
Paralytic shellfish toxin content is related to genomic sxtA4 copy number in Alexandrium minutum strains.
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Paralytic shellfish toxin content is related to genomic sxtA4 copy number in Alexandrium minutum strains.
Front Microbiol. 2015;6:404
Authors: Stüken A, Riobó P, Franco J, Jakobsen KS, Guillou L, Figueroa RI
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are microscopic aquatic eukaryotes with huge genomes and an unusual cell regulation. For example, most genes are present in numerous copies and all copies seem to be obligatorily transcribed. The consequence of the gene copy number (CPN) for final protein synthesis is, however, not clear. One such gene is sxtA, the starting gene of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) synthesis. PSTs are small neurotoxic compounds that can accumulate in the food chain and cause serious poisoning incidences when ingested. They are produced by dinoflagellates of the genera Alexandrium, Gymnodium, and Pyrodinium. Here we investigated if the genomic CPN of sxtA4 is related to PST content in Alexandrium minutum cells. SxtA4 is the 4th domain of the sxtA gene and its presence is essential for PST synthesis in dinoflagellates. We used PST and genome size measurements as well as quantitative PCR to analyze sxtA4 CPN and toxin content in 15 A. minutum strains. Our results show a strong positive correlation between the sxtA4 CPN and the total amount of PST produced in actively growing A. minutum cells. This correlation was independent of the toxin profile produced, as long as the strain contained the genomic domains sxtA1 and sxtA4.
PMID: 25983733 [PubMed]
May 14
Dinoflagellate Gene Structure and Intron Splice Sites in a Genomic Tandem Array.
Dinoflagellate Gene Structure and Intron Splice Sites in a Genomic Tandem Array.
J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2015 May 12;
Authors: Mendez GS, Delwiche CF, Apt KE, Lippmeier JC
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are…
May 13
Mitochondrial genome of Babesia orientalis, apicomplexan parasite of water buffalo (Bubalus babalis, Linnaeus, 1758) endemic in China.
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Mitochondrial genome of Babesia orientalis, apicomplexan parasite of water buffalo (Bubalus babalis, Linnaeus, 1758) endemic in China.
Parasit Vectors. 2014;7:82
Authors: He L, Zhang Y, Zhang QL, …
May 01
Opinion: Conservation and stewardship of the human microbiome.
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Opinion: Conservation and stewardship of the human microbiome.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Oct 7;111(40):14312-3
Authors: O’Doherty KC, Neufeld JD, Brinkman FS, Gardner H, Guttman DS, Beiko RG
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