Commentary
Plastid evolution: gene transfer and the maintenance of 'stolen' organelles
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3 H 1X5, Canada
BMC Biology 2010, 8:73 doi:10.1186/1741-7007-8-73
Published: 10 June 2010Abstract
Many heterotrophic organisms sequester plastids from prey algae and temporarily utilize their photosynthetic capacity. A recent article in BMC Genomics reveals that the dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata has acquired photosynthesis-related genes by horizontal gene transfer, which might explain its ability to retain 'stolen' plastids for extended periods of time.
See research article http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/11/366 webcite
