Characterization of starch metabolism pathways in dinoflagellates, chromerids and apicomplexans highlights the presence of a starch accumulating symbiont in their common ancestor
- 1University of Lille
Abstract
Unlike most other heterotrophic protist lineages which synthesize glycogen, alveolates accumulate -glucan storage polysaccharides in the form of starch. Within Alveolata, ciliates do so by using a simple pathway analogous to that used for glycogen metabolism in eukaryotes. However, Myzozoa have evolved five additional enzymatic steps which are common to Dinoflagellata, Chromerids and Apicomplexa. Moreover, dinoflagellates have acquired seven additional enzymes that distinguish them from the Chromerids-Apicompexa lineages, while chromerids possess only a single enzyme not found in dinoflagellates. Such modifications are not found in other eukaryotic lineages save for those resulting directly from primary or secondary plastid endosymbiosis. The many differences affecting the starch pathway of Myzozoa can be explained by a single secondary or tertiary plastid endosymbiosis of a starch-containing alga followed by distinct compartmentalisation outcomes of starch metabolism in Dinoflagellata relative to chromerids and Apicomplexa.
Related
- A Saccharimonadia epibiont interacts with the polyphosphate-accumulating bacterium Candidatus Phosphoribacter in wastewater treatment plants
- Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of the Carboxylesterase (CXE) Gene Family in Melon (Cucumis melo L.): CmCXE7 as a Cold-Responsive Regulator of Ester Metabolism
- Proteomics reveals conserved features of histone biology in dinoflagellates
- Characterization of central carbon metabolism of Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5 based on 13C-metabolic flux analysis
- Genomic and Functional Characterization of Three Probiotic Strains with Features Relevant to Cholesterol and Choline-TMAO Metabolism: Rationale for a Cardiometabolic Formulation.
BibTeX
@misc{cenci2026characterization,
title = {{Characterization of starch metabolism pathways in dinoflagellates, chromerids and apicomplexans highlights the presence of a starch accumulating symbiont in their common ancestor}},
author = {U. Cenci and M. Chabi and L. Fermont and P. Deschamps and M. Leleu and C. Tirtiaux and J. M. Archibald and M. Obornik and C. Colleoni and S. Ball},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.25.754361},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754361v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Characterization of starch metabolism pathways in dinoflagellates, chromerids and apicomplexans highlights the presence of a starch accumulating symbiont in their common ancestor
AU - U. Cenci
AU - M. Chabi
AU - L. Fermont
AU - P. Deschamps
AU - M. Leleu
AU - C. Tirtiaux
AU - J. M. Archibald
AU - M. Obornik
AU - C. Colleoni
AU - S. Ball
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.25.754361
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754361v1
AB - Unlike most other heterotrophic protist lineages which synthesize glycogen, alveolates accumulate -glucan storage polysaccharides in the form of starch. Within Alveolata, ciliates do so by using a simple pathway analogous to that used for glycogen metabolism in eukaryotes. However, Myzozoa have evolved five additional enzymatic steps which are common to Dinoflagellata, Chromerids and Apicomplexa. Moreover, dinoflagellates have acquired seven additional enzymes that distinguish them from the Chromerids-Apicompexa lineages, while chromerids possess only a single enzyme not found in dinoflagellates. Such modifications are not found in other eukaryotic lineages save for those resulting directly from primary or secondary plastid endosymbiosis. The many differences affecting the starch pathway of Myzozoa can be explained by a single secondary or tertiary plastid endosymbiosis of a starch-containing alga followed by distinct compartmentalisation outcomes of starch metabolism in Dinoflagellata relative to chromerids and Apicomplexa.
ER -