title: Morphology, ultrastructure and life cycle of Vitrella brassicaformis n. sp., n. gen., a novel chromerid from the Great Barrier Reef.
abstract: Chromerida are photoautotrophic alveolates so far only isolated from corals in Australia. It has been shown that these secondary plastid-containing algae are closely related to apicomplexan parasites and share various morphological and molecular characters with both Apicomplexa and Dinophyta. So far, the only known representative of the phylum was Chromera velia. Here we provide a formal description of another chromerid, Vitrella brassicaformis gen. et sp. nov., complemented with a detailed study on its ultrastructure, allowing insight into its life cycle. The novel alga differs significantly from the related chromerid C. velia in life cycle, morphology as well as the plastid genome. Analysis of photosynthetic pigments on the other hand demonstrate that both chromerids lack chlorophyll c, the hallmark of phototrophic chromalveolates. Based on the relatively high divergence between C. velia and V. brassicaformis, we propose their classification into distinct families Chromeraceae and Vitrellaceae. Moreover, we predict a hidden and unexplored diversity of the chromerid algae.
authors: Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. obornik@paru.cas.cz
authors: Miroslav
authors: M
authors: Oborník
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Modrý
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Lukeš
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Cernotíková-Stříbrná
authors: Jaromír
authors: J
authors: Cihlář
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Tesařová
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Kotabová
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Vancová
authors: Ondřej
authors: O
authors: Prášil
authors: Julius
authors: J
authors: Lukeš
mesh_terms: D056893:Alveolata / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000502:physiology; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D057894:Coral Reefs; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054627:Genome, Plastid; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010802:Phylogeny; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000502:physiology; D018087:Plastids / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D033761:Spores, Protozoan / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000502:physiology; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002734:Chlorophyll; C005613:violaxanthin; D000077194:Chlorophyll A