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| Bulboplastis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | Rhodellophyceae
|
| Order: | Dixoniellales
|
| Family: | Dixoniellaceae
|
| Genus: | Bulboplastis
|
| Type species | |
| Bulboplastis apyrenoidosa | |
Bulboplastis is a unicellelar red alga belonging to Rhodellophyceae (Rhodophyta) [1]. First described in 2012 in Japanese Mangrove forests, this genus is characterized by its unique lobed chloroplast that lacks a pyrenoid, differentiating it from other unicellular red algae [1]. It has drawn interest for its evolutionary significance, particularly in studies of plastid genome reduction and group II intron mobility [1][2].
Etymology
[edit]Etymology not provided in the original description.
Type Species
[edit]The type species for Bulboplastis is Bulboplastis apyrenoidosa.
History of Knowledge
[edit]The original isolation of Bulboplastis apyrenoidosa took place in 1984, from a sediment sample obtained on Iriomote Island, Japan [1]. However, due to its morphological resemblance to Rhodospora sordida, it was treated as Rhodospora [1]. Various papers continued to cite this species as Rhodospora and place it in the same clade as Dixoniella and Rhodella in phylogenetic trees [1]. Due to advancements in microscopy and molecular techniques, the species was described further in 2012 and characterized by its distinct chloroplast. B. apyrenoidosa forms a clade with three genera of the Dixoniellales: Dixoniella, Glaucosphaera, and Neorhodella [1]. Its compact plastid genome has allowed further genomic studies to contribute to broader research on red algal genome evolution [3].
Habitat and Ecology
[edit]B. apyrenoidosa is found in mangrove-associated environments, where it thrives under varying salinity conditions [1]. It plays a role in primary production within its ecosystem, potentially contributing to nutrient cycles through its metabolic adaptations, including mannitol production [1].
Description of the Organism
[edit]Morphology and Anatomy
They are free-living, spherical unicellular algae ranging from 6.5 to 23.0 µm in diameter, with a mean size of 11.2 µm. Bulboplastis lacks a rigid cell wall but is surrounded by a thick mucilaginous sheath of variable thickness (1.5 - 7.8 µm), which changes depending on culture conditions and cell age [1]. The mucilaginous sheath has two fibrous layers, a thin inner layer and a thicker, less dense outer layer [1]. The single, grayish-green chloroplast is highly lobed, encircles the centrally located nucleus, and lacks a pyrenoid. Peripheral thylakoids are absent, but plastoglobuli clusters are present near the chloroplast envelope [1]. The location of the nucleus is central within the cell, with one or two prominent nucleoli. The Golgi bodies are found in the perinuclear region, and nucleus-associated organelles (NAOs) are present as ring-shaped structures associated with electron-dense material [1]. The mitochondrial profiles are distributed around the periphery and near the nuclear region. Golgi bodies show electron-dense spaces between their cisternae, and the peripheral endoplasmic reticulum is located just beneath the cell membrane [1].
Life Cycle
Bulboplastis undergoes asexual reproduction through binary fission [1].
Genetics
B. apyrenoidosa shows significant genome compaction, which aligns with the trend observed in red algae. Mobile group II introns have been found in its plastid genome, helping in our understanding of horizontal gene transfer and genome evolution [2]. Additionally, its mitochondrial genome contains repeat-rich sequences, which further support the hypothesis of dynamic mitochondrial genome evolution in red algae [2].
Practical Importance
[edit]The genome of Bulboplastis has been studied as a model for understanding plastid genome reduction and evolution in red algae [2]. Its unique genetic features may offer insights into bioengineering and evolutionary biology [3][2].
External Links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kushibiki, Asuka et al. (2012). “New Unicellular Red Alga, Bulboplastis apyrenoidosa Gen. et Sp. Nov. (Rhodellophyceae, Rhodophyta) from the Mangroves of Japan: Phylogenetic and Ultrastructural Observations.” Phycological Research 60.2: 114–122
- ^ a b c d e Kim, D., Lee, J., Cho, C. H., Kim, E. J., Bhattacharya, D., and Yoon, H. S. (2022). “Group II intron and repeat-rich red algal mitochondrial genomes demonstrate the dynamic recent history of autocatalytic RNAs.” BMC Biology 20: 2
- ^ a b Bhattacharya, D., Qiu, H., Lee, J., Su Yoon, H., Weber, A. P. M., & Price, D. C. (2018). “When Less Is More: Red Algae as Models for Studying Gene Loss and Genome Evolution in Eukaryotes.” Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 37.1: 81–99