Molecular Cell Biology II: Plastid Evolution

The process by which a eukaryotic cell engulfs and incorporates another organism, such as a bacterium, within its cytoplasm.

The evolutionary origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts through endosymbiotic events.

An ancestral eukaryotic cell that gave rise to animals and fungi.

The theory that suggests the mitochondria in eukaryotic cells originated from the engulfment and symbiosis of a proteobacterium by an ancestral eukaryotic cell.

The theory that suggests chloroplasts in plants originated from the engulfment of a photosynthetic cyanobacterium by an ancestral eukaryotic cell.

A type of bacterium that performs photosynthesis.

A group of organisms that includes bacteria and archaea, distinguished by their lack of a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

A group of organisms that includes plants, animals, fungi, and protists, characterized by the presence of a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

A process where a eukaryotic cell engulfs a prokaryotic cell, which then becomes an organelle within the host cell. This is how eukaryotic cells acquired chloroplasts.

The group of organisms that includes red algae, green algae, and land plants, all of which are descended from a primary endosymbiotic event involving a cyanobacterium.

A type of algae characterized by their small size and the presence of a unique structure called a cyanelle, which is essentially a chloroplast that still retains a peptidoglycan wall like its cyanobacterial ancestor.

The outer membrane of a plastid that originated from the outer membrane of the original cyanobacterium.

The inner membrane of a plastid that originated from the inner membrane of the original cyanobacterium.

A secondary endosymbiotic event where a eukaryotic cell engulfs another eukaryotic cell that contains a plastid.

A small, degenerate nucleus that is found in some algae and is thought to be the remnant of the nucleus of the eukaryotic cell that was engulfed during secondary endosymbiosis.

A type of algae with blue-green plastids called cyanelles, starch stored in the cytoplasm, and does not engage in sexual reproduction.

A type of algae with chlorophyll a and d, phycocyanin, and phycoerythrin pigments, no flagellated cells, cell walls made up of cellulose, mucilage, or calcium carbonate, and stores floridean starch.

A type of algae with chlorophylls a and b, stores starch in chloroplasts, has plastids with two membranes, lacks grana stacks in its thylakoid membranes, and has a cell wall mainly composed of cellulose.

A spherical or ellipsoidal body found within the chloroplast of certain algae, mainly composed of RuBisCO, an enzyme crucial for carbon fixation during photosynthesis.

A type of eukaryotic organism known for its ability to incorporate a cyanobacterium into its own structure, resulting in the formation of a chromatophore.

The specialized plastid found within Paulinella chromatophora, a photosynthetic organelle derived from a symbiotic cyanobacterium.

Endosymbiosis is a process where one organism (symbiont) lives inside another organism (host) and benefits both. In the case of plastids, a prokaryotic cell, like a cyanobacterium, was engulfed by a eukaryotic host cell. Over time, the symbiont became incorporated into the host cell, eventually becoming a plastid.

A plastid is a type of organelle found in plant cells and some algae. It's responsible for photosynthesis, the process of converting light energy into chemical energy.

The periplastidial compartment is a space in the cytoplasm of cells with secondary plastids. It is located between the inner and outer membranes of the plastid and contains the nucleomorphs.

The inner membrane (IM) of a plastid is one of the layers surrounding the plastid. It's derived from the original prokaryotic symbiont's cell membrane.

A type of dinoflagellate that combines autotrophic (photosynthesis) and heterotrophic (eating other organisms) behaviors, enabling them to survive under various environmental conditions.

A groove or indentation around a dinoflagellate cell where the transverse flagellum resides, aiding in spinning motion.

A long, whip-like structure that extends posteriorly in dinoflagellates, responsible for directional movement.

Tough, protective plates made of cellulose that cover the exterior of dinoflagellates, providing structural support and aiding in classification.

A symbiotic relationship where dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) live inside corals, providing them with nutrients through photosynthesis; in return, the corals offer shelter and CO2 for photosynthesis.

Dinoflagellates that produce toxins and can cause Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) with significant ecological and economic effects.

A specific type of dinoflagellate responsible for harmful algal blooms known as "red tides."

A group of dinoflagellates that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) by producing toxins.

A group of algae characterized by heterokont flagella (stramenopiles), chlorophyll a, c, and fucoxanthin pigments, and chrysolaminarin as their storage compound.

A type of accessory pigment found in heterokontophytes, giving them a brown color. It absorbs light energy and plays a role in photosynthesis.

A unique type of flagella with two different parts found in heterokontophytes. They are used for movement and may have different structures.

A polysaccharide (carbohydrate) used as a storage compound by heterokontophytes. It is stored in cytoplasmic vesicles.

A group of algae within the Heterokontophyta known as 'brown algae'. They are often multicellular and play a critical role in marine ecosystems.

A class of algae within the Heterokontophyta known as 'golden algae'. These are usually single-celled and often found in freshwater environments.

A class of algae within the Heterokontophyta known as 'yellow-green algae'. They are often found in freshwater environments and can be either single-celled or filamentous.

A class of algae within the Heterokontophyta known as 'diatoms'. They are one of the most abundant algal groups in the world, especially in marine environments.