Journal article
The smallest known eukaryotic genomes encode a protein gene: towards an understanding of nucleomorph functions
CJB Hofmann, SA Rensing, MM Häuber, WF Martin, SB Müller, J Couch, GI McFadden, GL Igloi, UG Maier
MGG Molecular General Genetics | SPRINGER VERLAG | Published : 1994
DOI: 10.1007/BF00284209
Abstract
Cryptomonads are unicellular algae with plastids surrounded by four membranes. Between the two pairs of membranes lies a periplastidal compartment that harbours a DNA-containing organelle, termed the nucleomorph. The nucleomorph is the vestigial nucleus of a phototrophic, eukaryotic endosymbiont. Subcloning of parts of one nucleomorph chromosome revealed a gene coding for an Hsp70 protein. We demonstrate the expression of this nucleomorph protein-coding gene and present a model for protein transport from the host to the endosymbiont compartment. © 1994 Springer-Verlag.