Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.
Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA.
Bioessays. 2021 May;43(5):e2000278. doi: 10.1002/bies.202000278. Epub 2021 Apr 1.
The cytoskeleton has a central role in eukaryotic biology, enabling cells to organize internally, polarize, and translocate. Studying cytoskeletal machinery across the tree of life can identify common elements, illuminate fundamental mechanisms, and provide insight into processes specific to less-characterized organisms. Red algae represent an ancient lineage that is diverse, ecologically significant, and biomedically relevant. Recent genomic analysis shows that red algae have a surprising paucity of cytoskeletal elements, particularly molecular motors. Here, we review the genomic and cell biological evidence and propose testable models of how red algal cells might perform processes including cell motility, cytokinesis, intracellular transport, and secretion, given their reduced cytoskeletons. In addition to enhancing understanding of red algae and lineages that evolved from red algal endosymbioses (e.g., apicomplexan parasites), these ideas may also provide insight into cytoskeletal processes in animal cells.
细胞骨架在真核生物学中起着核心作用，使细胞能够内部组织、极化和移位。研究生命之树中的细胞骨架机制可以识别共同的元素，阐明基本机制，并深入了解特征不那么明显的生物体的特有过程。红藻是一个多样化的、具有生态意义和生物医学相关性的古老谱系。最近的基因组分析表明，红藻的细胞骨架元素，尤其是分子马达，出人意料地匮乏。在这里，我们回顾了基因组和细胞生物学证据，并提出了可测试的模型，探讨了在其简化的细胞骨架的基础上，红藻细胞可能进行的细胞运动、胞质分裂、细胞内运输和分泌等过程。这些观点除了有助于增强对红藻和从红藻内共生体进化而来的谱系（例如，顶复门寄生虫）的理解之外，还可能为动物细胞的细胞骨架过程提供新的见解。
