Ostreococcus tauri: seeing through the genes to the genome.
The marine green alga Ostreococcus tauri is the smallest-known free-living eukaryote. The recent sequencing of its genome extends this distinction, because it also has one of the smallest and most compact nuclear genomes. For other highly compacted genomes (e.g. those of microsporidian parasites and relic endosymbiont nucleomorphs), compaction is associated with severe gene loss. By contrast, O. tauri has retained a large complement of genes. Studying O. tauri should shed light on forces, other than parasitism and endosymbiosis, that result in densely packed genomes.
Keeling
Patrick J
PJ
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Botany Department, University of British Columbia, 3529-6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada. pkeeling@interchange.ubc.ca
D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000235:genetics*; D016678:Genome
D020418:Algal Proteins