title: Subulatomonas tetraspora nov. gen. nov. sp. is a member of a previously unrecognized major clade of eukaryotes.
abstract: While a large number of aerobic free-living protists have been described within the last decade, the number of new anaerobic or microaerophilic microbial eukaryotic taxa has lagged behind. Here we describe a microaerophilic genus and species of amoeboflagellate isolated from a near-shore marine site off the coast at Plymouth, Massachusetts: Subulatomonas tetraspora nov. gen. nov. sp. This taxon is closely related to Breviata anathema based on both microscopical features and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of three genes: SSU-rDNA, actin, and alpha-tubulin. However, Subulatomonas tetraspora nov. gen. nov. sp. and B. anathema are morphologically distinctive, differ by 14.9% at their SSU-rDNA locus, and were isolated from marine and 'slightly brackish' environments, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of these two taxa plus closely related sequences from environmental surveys provide support for a novel clade of eukaryotes that is distinct from the major clades including the Opisthokonta, Excavata, Amoebozoa and 'SAR' (Stramenopile, Alveolate, Rhizaria).
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, 44 College Lane, Northampton, Massachusetts 01063, USA. Lkatz@smith.edu
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Katz
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Grant
authors: Laura Wegener
authors: LW
authors: Parfrey
authors: Anastasia
authors: A
authors: Gant
authors: Charles J
authors: CJ
authors: O'Kelly
authors: O Roger
authors: OR
authors: Anderson
authors: Robert E
authors: RE
authors: Molestina
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Nerad
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000469:parasitology*; D008404:Massachusetts; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012623:Seawater / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen