2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
The studies on organization and evolution of eukaiyotes based on genome analyses of primitive red alga.
| Project/Area Number |
13206011
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Review Section |
Biological Sciences
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| Research Institution | University of Rikkyou (2003-2004)
The University of Tokyo (2001-2002) |
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Principal Investigator |
KUROIWA Tsuneyoshi Rikkyo University, college of science, professor, 理学部, 教授 (50033353)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
SATO Naoki University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, professor, 大学院総合文化研究科, 教授 (40154075)
TANAKA Kan University of Tokyo, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, associate professor, 分子細胞生物学研究所, 助教授 (60222113)
NOZAKI Hisayoshi University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Sciences, associate professor, 大学院理学系研究科, 助教授 (40250104)
OHTA Niji Saitama University, Faculty of Sciences, assistant, 理学部, 助手 (60257186)
NAKAMURA Soichi University of Ryukyus, Graduate School of Science, professor, 理学部, 教授 (00201674)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2001 – 2004
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| Keywords | genome / eukaryote / organelle / red alga / division apparatus / extreme environment / intron / phylogenetic analysis |
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| Research Abstract |
Small, compact genomes of ultrasmall unicellular algae provide information on the basic and essential genes that support the lives of photosynthetic eukaryotes, including higher plants. We reported the 16,520,305-base-pair sequence of the 20 chromosomes of the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D as the first complete algal genome. We identified 5,331 genes in total, of which at least 86.3% were expressed. Unique characteristics of this genomic structure include: a lack of introns in all but 26 genes; only three copies of ribosomal DNA units that maintain the nucleolus; and two dynamin genes that are involved only in the division of mitochondria and plastids. The conserved mosaic origin of Calvin cycle enzymes in this red alga and in green plants supports the hypothesis of the existence of single primary plastid endosymbiosis. The lack of a myosin gene, in addition to the unexpressed actin gene, suggests a simpler system of cytokinesis. These results indicate that the C. merolae genome provides a model system with a simple gene composition for studying the origin, evolution and fundamental mechanisms of eukaryotic cells.
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