Cryptomonas

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
A Cryptomonas ovata phytoplankter from a sample collected at Lake Toolik (Alaska, USA). From micro*scope

Classification

Eukaryota; Cryptophyta; Cryptomonadales; Cryptomonadaceae; Cryptomonas

Species

NCBI: [1]

Cryptomonas borealis

Cryptomonas commutata

Cryptomonas curvata

Cryptomonas erosa

Cryptomonas gyropyrenoidosa

Cryptomonas lundii

Cryptomonas loricata

Cryptomonas marssonii

Cryptomonas obovoidea

NCBI: [2]

Cryptomonas ovata

Cryptomonas paramaecium

Cryptomonas phaseolus

Cryptomonas pyrenoidifera

Cryptomonas tetrapyrenoidosa

Description and Significance

Cryptomonas ovata is a species of phytoplankton that is common in freshwater systems around the world. The species can be defined as "cryptomonads", which is a group of biflagellate organisms that includes both protozoans (order Cryptomonadida) or alga (class Cryptophyceae), this species belonging to the latter. C. ovata functions as a primary producer in freshwater ecosystems and contributes to the foraging base of many heterotrophs, including macroinvertibrates and fishes. Often times it shares habitat with other species from the genus Cryptomonas, such as C. borealis and C. marssonii, further perturbing the paradox of the plankton.

Genome Structure

The phylogenetic tree for the genus Cryptomonas. C. ovata is highlighted in green. From Tree of Life Web Project

Originally this genus was three seperate genuses: Cryptomonas, Campylomonas, and Chilomonas. However, after the analysis of two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions and and a nucleomorph ribosomal gene, Campylomonas and Chilomonas were found to be the result of life history-dependent dimorphism in the Cryptomonas genus, and where therefore reclassified. [1]

C. ovata has 4 genomes within the cell: the nucleus, the nucleomorph, the plastid, and the mitochondrial genomes. The plastid genome is circular and contains 118 kilobase pairs. This genome is the direct result of secondary endosymbiosis via a viral phage from a red alga, which accounts for the presence of red chloroplasts found in distant strains of cyanobacteria.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.


Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

[1]Hoef-Emden, K., Melkonian, M. "Revision of the Genus Cryptomonas (Cryptophyceae): a Combination of Molecular Phylogeny and Morphology Provides Insights into a Long-Hidden Dimorphism". Protist. 2008. Volume 159:3, p. 507

Hoef-Emden, K., Tran, H., Melkonian, M. "Lineage-specific variations of congruent evolution among DNA sequences from three genomes, and relaxed selective constraints on rbcL in Cryptomonas (Cryptophyceae)". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 2005. Volume 5. p. 103-112.

Author

Page authored by Alison Cutter and Alexandra David, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.