3 Gene function can be predicted by using sequence similarity analyses, but these analyses fail for genes that do not show sequence similarity to characterized genes. These challenges have resulted in minimal knowledge about the gene number, identity, and function within several protistan lineages. In addition, protists have much larger genomes and more complicated gene expression patterns when compared to bacteria. The reasons for this are numerous and range from technical challenges to a lack of readily cultivable strains.
Through their microbial processes, they drive the cycling of nutrients and the energy flow between all planet spheres (e.g., biosphere and atmosphere).ĭespite their impact on human health and on a planetary scale, the understanding of gene function in protists has lagged behind other microbial taxa.
Today, we know that although most of the described species of eukaryotes belong to the multicellular collection of animals (Metazoa), plants, and fungi, these lineages only represent a very small proportion of the eukaryotic diversity.11, 15 Together with bacteria and fungi, protists form the engine of every biogeochemical cycle central to all ecosystems on earth. The term “protist” was employed in the 19th century by the artist and biologist Ernest Haeckel 8 to all eukaryotes that were not plants, animals, or fungi. Microbial eukaryotes, or protists, are a phylogenetically broad collection of single-celled organisms. We expect to serve as a valuable resource for protistologists, as well as a catalyst for discoveries and new insights into the biological processes of microbial eukaryotes. Here, we show how our database can be used to reveal genes involved in essential pathways, such as the synthesis of secondary carotenoids in Haematococcus lacustris. To address this gap, we used gene expression data from 17 protist species to create : an online database equipped with tools for identifying co-expressed genes, gene families, and co-expression clusters enriched for specific biological functions. However, significant gaps in our understanding of the microbial world remain, and one example is that microbial eukaryotes, or protists, are still largely neglected. DNA sequencing has revealed the surprising extent of microbial diversity and how microbial processes run global ecosystems. During the last few decades, the study of microbial ecology has been enabled by molecular and genomic data.
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