ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
Key words FtsZ
;
Chloroplast division
;
Cryptomonad
;
Nucleomorph
;
Subcellular localization
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Guillardia theta is a cryptomonad alga, whose phototrophic symbiont was acquired by secondary endocytobiosis. The nucleomorph, the vestigial nucleus of the eukaryotic endosymbiont, harbors three linear chromosomes with a total coding capacity of 515 kb. Sequencing of the nucleomorph genome reveals that it encodes an ORF homologous to the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ, supporting the hypothesis that FtsZ is common in chloroplasts. We show that the nucleomorph-encoded ftsZ gene is transcribed. The transcript is polyadenylated and therefore shows features typical of eukaryotic transcripts. However, 3′ processing of nucleomorph mRNA is inaccurate. Transcripts of nucleomorph genes in G. theta overlap with neighboring UTRs and coding regions. We demonstrate that the reading frame encoding NmFtsZ is not interrupted by introns. Subcellular localization of the protein reveals that FtsZ is localized exclusively in the chloroplast of G. theta, demonstrating that FtsZ is imported into the organelle.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004380050887
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