Multiple losses of photosynthesis in Nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae)

• DOI: 10.1111/pre.12072
• Publication Date: 2014-11-20T10:45:40Z
• Authors: Ryoma Kamikawa; Naoji Yubuki; Masaki Yoshida; Misaka Taira; Noriaki Nakamura; Ken‐ichiro Ishida; Brian S. Leander; Hideaki Miyashita; Tetsuo Hashimoto; Shigeki Mayama; Yuji Inagaki
• Keywords: Monophyly

Summary In order to obtain insights into the evolution of colorless (apochlorotic) diatoms, we investigated newly established apochlorotic strains N itzschia spp. using light and electron microscopy molecular phylogenetic analyses. Fluorescence microscopic observations demonstrated that diatoms lack chlorophylls. Transmission two also their plastids lacked thylakoids; instead, having four‐membrane‐bound organelles without thylakoids, similar nonphotosynthetic plastid remnants. From strains, found small subunit rRNA genes were unusually long branched in analyses, as observed other plastids. Molecular analysis nucleus‐encoded large showed eight distinct lineages for diatoms. The not monophyletic, suggesting loss photosynthesis took place multiple times independently within . Several including spp., are mixotrophic, which is an expected mode nutrition would help explain evolutionary switch from a photosynthetic lifestyle heterotrophic lifestyle.