This study identifies diplonemid protists as significant accumulators of strontium and barium, forming crystals that may influence oceanic mineral cycling and sedimentation.

bioRxiv · Jun 27, 2022Microbiology

The development of intracytoplasmic membranes in alphaproteobacteria involves the conserved mitochondrial crista-developing protein Mic60

S. A. Munoz-Gomez, L. R. Cadena, A. T. Gardiner, M. M. Leger, S. Sheikh, L. Connell, T. Bily, K. Kopejtka, J. T. Beatty, M. Koblizek, A. J. Roger, C. H. Slamovits, J. Lukes, H. Hashimi

This study shows that Mic60 homologs in alphaproteobacteria are involved in intracytoplasmic membrane development and contact site formation, supporting the hypothesis that mitochondrial cristae evolved from bacterial ICMs.

bioRxiv · Jun 14, 2022 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology

Genetic tool development in marine protists: Emerging model organisms for experimental cell biology

F. Drahomira, R. E. R. Nisbet, J. Lukes

This paper develops genetic tools for 13 new protist species and advances tools for 8 others, providing insights into eukaryotic biology and evolution.

bioRxiv · Apr 8, 2020Ecology

Highly reduced genomes of protist endosymbionts show evolutionary convergence

E. E. George, F. Husnik, D. Tashyreva, G. Prokopchuk, A. Horak, W. K. Kwong, J. Lukes, P. J. Keeling

The paper sequenced genomes of bacterial endosymbionts in diplonemid protists, revealing convergent genome reduction and functional adaptations across different host lineages.

bioRxiv · Jul 30, 2019Evolutionary Biology

Proteome of the secondary plastid of Euglena gracilis reveals metabolic quirks and colourful history

A. M. Novak Vanclova, M. Zoltner, S. Kelly, P. Soukal, K. Zahonova, Z. Füssy, T. E. Ebenezer, E. Lacova Dobakova, M. Elias, J. Lukes, M. C. Field, V. Hampl

The paper identifies and annotates the plastid proteome of Euglena gracilis, revealing horizontally transferred genes and unique metabolic features.

bioRxiv · Mar 11, 2019 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology