title: An ecological and evolutionary context for integrated nitrogen metabolism and related signaling pathways in marine diatoms.
abstract: Whole-genome sequence analysis has revealed that diatoms contain genes and pathways that are novel in photosynthetic eukaryotes. More generally, the unique evolutionary footprint of the chromalveolates, which includes a genome fusion between a heterotrophic protist and a red alga in addition to a major prokaryotic influence, has fostered their inheritance of a unique complement of metabolic capabilities. Many aspects of nitrogen metabolism and cell signaling appear to be linked in diatoms. This new perspective provides a basis for understanding the ecological dominance of diatoms in contemporary oceans.
authors.affiliation: Princeton University, Department of Geosciences, Guyot Hall, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Assaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vardi
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bowler
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D017377:Diatoms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen