title: The smallest known eukaryotic genomes encode a protein gene: towards an understanding of nucleomorph functions.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie II/Zellbiologie, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rensing
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Häuber
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Couch
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Igloi
authors.forename: U G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011506:Proteins