Geosiphon-Nostoc Endosymbiosis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Domain: Bacteria, Phylum: Cyanobacteria, Class: Cyanophyceae, Order: Nostocales, Family: Nostocaceae, Genus: Nostoc

Domain: Fungi, Phylum: Mucoromycota, Class: Glomeromycetes, Order: Archaeosporales, Family: Geosiphonaceae, Genus: Geosiphon

Species

Nostoc punctiforme (ATTC: 29133) Geosiphon pyriformis (NCBI: 50956)

Description and significance

Nostoc punctiforme is a filamentous cyanobacterium that can be photoautotrophic, diazotrophic, heterotrophic, and/or symbiotic. It is broadly symbiotic, forming relationships with fungi, bryophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Its genome contains a large number of unique genes that likely play essential roles in cell differentiation and symbiosis (Meeks et al., 2001).

Geosiphon pyriformis is a fungus in the class Glomeromycetes, these fungi usually form arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotic relationships with plants and cannot live without a symbiotic partner. Geosiphon pyriformis is the only fungus known form an endosymbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Nostoc punctiforme). Microbiologists studying this relationship say that G. pyriformis represents an ideal candidate to investigate the origin of AMS (arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis) and the emergence of a unique endosymbiosis. (Malar et al., 2021).

16S Ribosomal RNA Gene Information

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The genome of N. punctiforme is 9.5Mb, 41.5%GC, 7432 open reading frames, determined by shotgun sequencing, “A significant part of the information of a genome resides outside of genes. Protein binding sites may determine the regulation of gene transcription and the compact structure of the genome within the cell. The modification state of DNA may regulate the replication of the genome and aid in DNA repair. Transposable elements and repeated sequences may increase the plasticity of the genome and contribute to rapid changes over evolutionary time. In each of these regards, the genome of N. punctiforme is strikingly different from those of most bacteria.” (Meeks et al., 2001).

The Geosiphon pyriformis genome sequence and modeling was performed by Nicolas Corradi and Mathu Malar C at the University of Ottawa. It was determined that the genome was 128.32 Mbp with 24,195 genes, and had a GC% of 29.25. These scientists found that, in the genome, 365 genes represented putative secreted proteins, and 27% of those were candidate effectors (chemicals that aid in the initiation and maintenance of symbiosis). The researchers also looked for evidence of horizontal gene transfer between the two species and found 18 genes with bacterial potential and two protein encoding genes with significant sequence conservation with Nostoc or Gamma proteobacteria homologs (Malar et al., 2021).

Author

Logan Meadors