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Molecular Evolution of Nitrogen Assimilatory Enzymes in Marine Prasinophytes

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Abstract

Nitrogen assimilation is a highly regulated process requiring metabolic coordination of enzymes and pathways in the cytosol, chloroplast, and mitochondria. Previous studies of prasinophyte genomes revealed that genes encoding nitrate and ammonium transporters have a complex evolutionary history involving both vertical and horizontal transmission. Here we examine the evolutionary history of well-conserved nitrogen-assimilating enzymes to determine if a similar complex history is observed. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that genes encoding glutamine synthetase (GS) III in the prasinophytes evolved by horizontal gene transfer from a member of the heterokonts. In contrast, genes encoding GSIIE, a canonical vascular plant and green algal enzyme, were found in the Micromonas genomes but have been lost from Ostreococcus. Phylogenetic analyses placed the Micromonas GSIIs in a larger chlorophyte/vascular plant clade; a similar topology was observed for ferredoxin-dependent nitrite reductase (Fd-NiR), indicating the genes encoding GSII and Fd-NiR in these prasinophytes evolved via vertical transmission. Our results show that genes encoding the nitrogen-assimilating enzymes in Micromonas and Ostreococcus have been differentially lost and as well as recruited from different evolutionary lineages, suggesting that the regulation of nitrogen assimilation in prasinophytes will differ from other green algae.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Grant (IOS105207) from the National Science Foundation (United States) to D. L. R. The authors thank Alfred Justo and Romina Gazis for their helpful comments on the manuscript. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Biology Department, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA

    Sohini Ghoshroy & Deborah L. Robertson

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  1. Sohini Ghoshroy
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  2. Deborah L. Robertson
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Correspondence to Sohini Ghoshroy.

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Ghoshroy, S., Robertson, D.L. Molecular Evolution of Nitrogen Assimilatory Enzymes in Marine Prasinophytes. J Mol Evol 80, 65–80 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-014-9659-3

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