title: Genome of the red alga Porphyridium purpureum.
abstract: The limited knowledge we have about red algal genomes comes from the highly specialized extremophiles, Cyanidiophyceae. Here, we describe the first genome sequence from a mesophilic, unicellular red alga, Porphyridium purpureum. The 8,355 predicted genes in P. purpureum, hundreds of which are likely to be implicated in a history of horizontal gene transfer, reside in a genome of 19.7 Mbp with 235 spliceosomal introns. Analysis of light-harvesting complex proteins reveals a nuclear-encoded phycobiliprotein in the alga. We uncover a complex set of carbohydrate-active enzymes, identify the genes required for the methylerythritol phosphate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, and find evidence of sexual reproduction. Analysis of the compact, function-rich genome of P. purpureum suggests that ancestral lineages of red algae acted as mediators of horizontal gene transfer between prokaryotes and photosynthetic eukaryotes, thereby significantly enriching genomes across the tree of photosynthetic life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources and Institute of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA. bhattacharya@aesop.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Debashish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Dana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Cheong Xin
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Andreas P M
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henrissat
authors.forename: Pedro M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Anagha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zäuner
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morath
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hilliou
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egizi
authors.forename: Marie-Mathilde
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Perrineau
authors.forename: Hwan Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D063990:Gene Ontology; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010802:Phylogeny; D044665:Porphyridium / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D013213:Starch / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D006017:Glycolipids; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D013107:Sphingolipids; D013213:Starch; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System