The Ectocarpus genome and the independent evolution of multicellularity in brown algae

摘要: Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) are complex photosynthetic organisms with a very different evolutionary history to green plants, which they only distantly related. These seaweeds the dominant species in rocky coastal ecosystems and exhibit many interesting adaptations these, often harsh, environments. also one of small number eukaryotic lineages that have evolved multicellularity (Fig. 1). We report 214 million base pair (Mbp) genome sequence filamentous seaweed Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngbye, model organism for brown closely related kelps Genome features such as presence an extended set light-harvesting pigment biosynthesis genes new metabolic processes halide metabolism help explain ability this cope highly variable tidal environment. The evolution lineage is correlated rich array signal transduction genes. Of particular interest family receptor kinases, independent molecules has been linked emergence both animal plant lineages. represents important step towards developing species, providing possibility combine genomic genetic approaches explore these other aspects algal biology further