The smallest known eukaryotic genomes encode a protein gene: towards an understanding of nucleomorph functions.
Cryptomonads are unicellular algae with plastids surrounded by four membranes. Between the two pairs of membranes lies a periplastidal compartment that harbours a DNA-containing organelle, termed the nucleomorph. The nucleomorph is the vestigial nucleus of a phototrophic, eukaryotic endosymbiont. Subcloning of parts of one nucleomorph chromosome revealed a gene coding for an Hsp70 protein. We demonstrate the expression of this nucleomorph protein-coding gene and present a model for protein transport from the host to the endosymbiont compartment.
Hofmann
C J
CJ
Institut für Biologie II/Zellbiologie, Freiburg, Germany.
Rensing
S A
SA
Häuber
M M
MM
Martin
W F
WF
Müller
S B
SB
Couch
J
J
McFadden
G I
GI
Igloi
G L
GL
Maier
U G
UG
D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D017343:Genes, Plant; D015698:Genomic Library; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015388:Organelles; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018087:Plastids; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*
D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011506:Proteins