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The Gonium pectorale genome demonstrates co-option of cell cycle regulation during the evolution of multicellularity

Author

Listed:
  • Erik R. Hanschen

    (University of Arizona)

  • Tara N. Marriage

    (Kansas State University)

  • Patrick J. Ferris

    (University of Arizona)

  • Takashi Hamaji

    (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center)

  • Atsushi Toyoda

    (Center for Advanced Genomics, National Institute of Genetics
    Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics)

  • Asao Fujiyama

    (Center for Advanced Genomics, National Institute of Genetics
    Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics)

  • Rafik Neme

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology)

  • Hideki Noguchi

    (Center for Advanced Genomics, National Institute of Genetics)

  • Yohei Minakuchi

    (Center for Information Biology, National Institute of Genetics)

  • Masahiro Suzuki

    (Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo)

  • Hiroko Kawai-Toyooka

    (Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo)

  • David R. Smith

    (Western University)

  • Halle Sparks

    (Kansas State University)

  • Jaden Anderson

    (Kansas State University)

  • Robert Bakarić

    (Ruđer Bošković Institute)

  • Victor Luria

    (Harvard Medical School
    Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Amir Karger

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Marc W. Kirschner

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Pierre M. Durand

    (University of Arizona
    Faculty of Health Sciences and Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
    University of the Western Cape)

  • Richard E. Michod

    (University of Arizona
    Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Hisayoshi Nozaki

    (Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo)

  • Bradley J. S. C. Olson

    (Kansas State University
    Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California Santa Barbara)

Abstract

The transition to multicellularity has occurred numerous times in all domains of life, yet its initial steps are poorly understood. The volvocine green algae are a tractable system for understanding the genetic basis of multicellularity including the initial formation of cooperative cell groups. Here we report the genome sequence of the undifferentiated colonial alga, Gonium pectorale, where group formation evolved by co-option of the retinoblastoma cell cycle regulatory pathway. Significantly, expression of the Gonium retinoblastoma cell cycle regulator in unicellular Chlamydomonas causes it to become colonial. The presence of these changes in undifferentiated Gonium indicates extensive group-level adaptation during the initial step in the evolution of multicellularity. These results emphasize an early and formative step in the evolution of multicellularity, the evolution of cell cycle regulation, one that may shed light on the evolutionary history of other multicellular innovations and evolutionary transitions.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik R. Hanschen & Tara N. Marriage & Patrick J. Ferris & Takashi Hamaji & Atsushi Toyoda & Asao Fujiyama & Rafik Neme & Hideki Noguchi & Yohei Minakuchi & Masahiro Suzuki & Hiroko Kawai-Toyooka & Dav, 2016. "The Gonium pectorale genome demonstrates co-option of cell cycle regulation during the evolution of multicellularity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11370
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11370
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    Cited by:

    1. Yashraj Chavhan & Sutirth Dey & Peter A. Lind, 2023. "Bacteria evolve macroscopic multicellularity by the genetic assimilation of phenotypically plastic cell clustering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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