Insights into the Evolution of Multicellularity from the Sea Lettuce Genome

Olivier De Clerck, Shu-Min Kao, Kenny A Bogaert, Jonas Blomme, Fatima Foflonker, Michiel Kwantes, Emmelien Vancaester, Lisa Vanderstraeten, Eylem Aydogdu, Jens Boesger, Gianmaria Califano, Benedicte Charrier, Rachel Clewes, Andrea Del Cortona, Sofie D'Hondt, Noe Fernandez-Pozo, Claire M Gachon, Marc Hanikenne, Linda Lattermann, Frederik LeliaertXiaojie Liu, Christine A Maggs, Zoë A Popper, John A Raven, Michiel Van Bel, Per K I Wilhelmsson, Debashish Bhattacharya, Juliet C Coates, Stefan A Rensing, Dominique Van Der Straeten, Assaf Vardi, Lieven Sterck, Klaas Vandepoele, Yves Van de Peer, Thomas Wichard, John H Bothwell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

137 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We report here the 98.5 Mbp haploid genome (12,924 protein coding genes) of Ulva mutabilis, a ubiquitous and iconic representative of the Ulvophyceae or green seaweeds. Ulva's rapid and abundant growth makes it a key contributor to coastal biogeochemical cycles; its role in marine sulfur cycles is particularly important because it produces high levels of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), the main precursor of volatile dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Rapid growth makes Ulva attractive biomass feedstock but also increasingly a driver of nuisance "green tides." Ulvophytes are key to understanding the evolution of multicellularity in the green lineage, and Ulva morphogenesis is dependent on bacterial signals, making it an important species with which to study cross-kingdom communication. Our sequenced genome informs these aspects of ulvophyte cell biology, physiology, and ecology. Gene family expansions associated with multicellularity are distinct from those of freshwater algae. Candidate genes, including some that arose following horizontal gene transfer from chromalveolates, are present for the transport and metabolism of DMSP. The Ulva genome offers, therefore, new opportunities to understand coastal and marine ecosystems and the fundamental evolution of the green lineage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2921-2933
Number of pages13
JournalCurrent Biology : CB
Volume28
Issue number18
Early online date13 Sept 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Sept 2018

Keywords

  • green seaweeds
  • multicellularity
  • phytohormones
  • DMSP
  • DMS
  • Ulva

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