Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1126/science.1222700
Title (Primary) Unicellular cyanobacterium symbiotic with a single-celled eukaryotic alga
Author Thompson, A.W.; Foster, R.A.; Krupke, A.; Carter, B.J.; Musat, N.; Vaulot, D.; Kuypers, M.M.M.; Zehr, J.P.
Source Titel Science
Year 2012
Department ISOBIO
Volume 337
Issue 6101
Page From 1546
Page To 1550
Language englisch
Abstract Symbioses between nitrogen (N)2–fixing prokaryotes and photosynthetic eukaryotes are important for nitrogen acquisition in N-limited environments. Recently, a widely distributed planktonic uncultured nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium (UCYN-A) was found to have unprecedented genome reduction, including the lack of oxygen-evolving photosystem II and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which suggested partnership in a symbiosis. We showed that UCYN-A has a symbiotic association with a unicellular prymnesiophyte, closely related to calcifying taxa present in the fossil record. The partnership is mutualistic, because the prymnesiophyte receives fixed N in exchange for transferring fixed carbon to UCYN-A. This unusual partnership between a cyanobacterium and a unicellular alga is a model for symbiosis and is analogous to plastid and organismal evolution, and if calcifying, may have important implications for past and present oceanic N2 fixation.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=13039
Thompson, A.W., Foster, R.A., Krupke, A., Carter, B.J., Musat, N., Vaulot, D., Kuypers, M.M.M., Zehr, J.P. (2012):
Unicellular cyanobacterium symbiotic with a single-celled eukaryotic alga
Science 337 (6101), 1546 - 1550 10.1126/science.1222700