Plant-like SPX-PHR-PSI regulatory cascade operates in phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are aquatic counterparts of plants, contributing 50% of CO2 drawdown and O2 production. They also are the base of the marine food chain. Like plants, their photosynthesis and growth rely on nutrients such as phosphate. How phytoplankton regulate P nutrition is poorly understood.
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It is exciting work and indeed insightful to document the expression of those quality checking and environment-responding control of gene expression. There is an issue of nomenclature, as it seems. RNA editing is a specific term used to describe base changes when or after a gene is transcribed to RNA. RNA editing events are inferred from base differences between genomic DNA and corresponding RNA sequences. Enzymes involved in this process include, for instance, adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR). RNA editing is more common in mitochondrial and chloroplast genes and rarely occurs in eukaryotes' nuclear genes.
RNA editing in dinoflagellates is quite extensive and diverse. References can be found in the following and subsequent publications:
Widespread and extensive editing of mitochondrial mRNAs in dinoflagellates.
J Mol Biol . 2002 Jul 19;320(4):727-39. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(02)00468-0.