The Glaucophyta: the blue-green plants in a nutshell

摘要: The Glaucophyta is one of the three major lineages photosynthetic eukaryotes, together with viridiplants and red algae, united in presumed monophyletic supergroup Archaeplastida. Glaucophytes constitute a key algal lineage to investigate both origin primary plastids evolution algae plants. Glaucophyte possess exceptional characteristics retained from their cyanobacterial ancestor: phycobilisome antennas, vestigial peptidoglycan wall, carboxysome-like bodies. These latter two traits are unique among Archaeplastida have been suggested as evidence that glaucophytes diverged earliest during diversification this supergroup. Our knowledge limited compared has restricted our capacity untangle early However, recent years novel genomic functional data increasing understanding glaucophyte biology. Diverse comparative studies using information nuclear genome Cyanophora paradoxa transcriptomic other species provide support for common Molecular ultrastructural revealed previously unrecognized diversity genera Glaucocystis . Overall, series findings modifying perspective providing fresh approaches basic biology rare group detail.