The twilight of Heliozoa and rise of Rhizaria, an emerging supergroup of amoeboid eukaryotes.
Recent molecular phylogenetic studies revealed the extraordinary diversity of single-celled eukaryotes. However, the proper assessment of this diversity and accurate reconstruction of the eukaryote phylogeny are still impeded by the lack of molecular data for some major groups of easily identifiable and cultivable protists. Among them, amoeboid eukaryotes have been notably absent from molecular phylogenies, despite their diversity, complexity, and abundance. To partly fill this phylogenetic gap, we present here combined small-subunit ribosomal RNA and actin sequence data for the three main groups of "Heliozoa" (Actinophryida, Centrohelida, and Desmothoracida), the heliozoan-like Sticholonche, and the radiolarian group Polycystinea. Phylogenetic analyses of our sequences demonstrate the polyphyly of heliozoans, which branch either as an independent eukaryotic lineage (Centrohelida), within stramenopiles (Actinophryida), or among cercozoans (Desmothoracida), in broad agreement with previous ultrastructure-based studies. Our data also provide solid evidence for the existence of the Rhizaria, an emerging supergroup of mainly amoeboid eukaryotes that includes desmothoracid heliozoans, all radiolarians, Sticholonche, and foraminiferans, as well as various filose and reticulose amoebae and some flagellates.
Nikolaev
Sergey I
SI
A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Evolutionary Biochemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia.
Berney
Cédric
C
Fahrni
José F
JF
Bolivar
Ignacio
I
Polet
Stephane
S
Mylnikov
Alexander P
AP
Aleshin
Vladimir V
VV
Petrov
Nikolai B
NB
Pawlowski
Jan
J
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000656:Amoeba / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics
D000199:Actins; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal