Molecular evolution of the 5'-terminal domain of large-subunit rRNA from lower eukaryotes. A broad phylogeny covering photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic protists.

This paper summarizes the present status of an analysis of protist phylogeny using rapid partial sequencing of 28S rRNA. Data from 12 protistan phyla are now available and have been used to construct a tentative dendrogram based on a distance matrix method. The tree is robust and has considerable internal consistency. The following salient points are observed: a number of flagellate groups (particularly Euglenozoa) emerge very early among eukaryotes, whereas ciliates and dinoflagellates emerge late, suggesting that some characteristics that had been considered as primitive may in fact be derived. Both chlorophytic and chromophytic photosynthetic protists emerge very late in the tree, close to the Metazoa-Metaphyta-Fungi radiation, suggesting relatively late occurrence of the photosynthetic symbiosis. Taxonomic and phylogenetic information is also obtained within a phylum where rRNA of enough species are sequenced. A deep trichotomy is thus observed within the ciliates. The data are discussed with respect to classical protist phylogenies.