title: Plastid evolution: gene transfer and the maintenance of 'stolen' organelles.
abstract: Many heterotrophic organisms sequester plastids from prey algae and temporarily utilize their photosynthetic capacity. A recent article in BMC Genomics reveals that the dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata has acquired photosynthesis-related genes by horizontal gene transfer, which might explain its ability to retain 'stolen' plastids for extended periods of time. See research article http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/366.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3 H 1X5, Canada.
authors.forename: Eunsoo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Archibald
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000235:genetics*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000235:genetics*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018087:Plastids / Q000235:genetics*; D013559:Symbiosis