The evolution of transposable elements in red algae.

Abstract

Red algae (Rhodophyta) played an important role in the evolution of photosynthetic organisms as plastid donor(s) in chlorophyll-c containing algae including cryptophytes, aptophytes, stramenopiles, and alveolates. Most red algal species are important components in marine ecosystems, serving as a shelter for diverse marine organisms and contributing as primary producers. Many red algal species are heavily cultivating as food and industrial purposes such as agar and carrageenan production. Despite of these importances, only several red algal genomes have been reported among more than 7,000 species. From the major multicellular red algal group of the Florideophyceae, only one genome was fully sequenced to date. To fill the gap of our understanding on red algae, here we analyzed a new genome of the ulticellular red algal species Gracilariopsis chorda. Using the long-read single molecule sequencing (PacBio) platform, we completed whole-genome of 89.6 Mbp (49% GC content, 1,098 contigs) that encodes a total of 9,992 predicted proteins. We discuss the interesting story of genome expansion/retention and gene duplication in red algal genomes.e important components in marine ecosystems, serving as a shelter for diverse marine organisms and contributing as primary producers. Many red algal species are heavily cultivating as food and industrial purposes such as agar and carrageenan production. Despite of these importances, only several red algal genomes have been reported among more than 7,000 species. From the major multicellular red algal group of the Florideophyceae, only one genome was fully sequenced to date. To fill the gap of our understanding on red algae, here we analyzed a new genome of the ulticellular red algal species Gracilariopsis chorda. Using the long-read single molecule sequencing (PacBio) platform, we completed whole-genome of 89.6 Mbp (49% GC content, 1,098 contigs) that encodes a total of 9,992 predicted proteins. We discuss the interesting story of genome expansion/retention and gene duplication in red algal genomes.