Y. Inagaki

Convergent reductive evolution of cyanobacteria in symbiosis with Dinophysiales dinoflagellates

This study sequenced a cyanobacterial symbiont of a dinoflagellate, revealing convergent genome reduction and shared features with another symbiont, while identifying unique genomic islands.

Encyclopaedia of family A DNA polymerases localized in organelles: Contribution of genes from bacteria including the proto-mitochondrion.

This study identifies and classifies 134 family A DNA polymerase sequences from diverse eukaryotes, revealing their evolutionary origins and suggesting the last eukaryotic common ancestor had two mitochondrial DNAPs.

Phylogenomics invokes the clade housing Cryptista, Archaeplastida, and Microheliella maris.

This study clarifies the phylogenetic position of Microheliella maris, placing it as a basal lineage of Cryptista and proposing a new clade Pancryptista, which includes Archaeplastida and M. maris.

Ubiquity and origins of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) proteins in eukaryotes

This study examines the evolution of SMC proteins in eukaryotes, finding multiple secondary losses of SMC5/6 and divergence of SMC1-4 from distinct ancestral proteins.

Phage origin of mitochondrion-localized family A DNA polymerases in kinetoplastids and diplonemids

The paper traces the origin of mitochondrion-localized DNA polymerases in kinetoplastids and diplonemids to a phage-derived enzyme, suggesting horizontal gene transfer played a key role in their evolution.

RT-qPCR analyses on the osteogenic differentiation from human iPS cells: An investigation of reference genes

The paper evaluates reference genes for RT-qPCR in osteogenic differentiation of human iPS cells, finding TBP as the most stable and GAPDH/ACTB as unsuitable.

Barthelonids represent a deep-branching Metamonad clade with mitochondrion-related organelles generating no ATP.

This study determines the phylogenetic position of barthelonids and reveals their mitochondrion-related organelles lack ATP-generating capacity.

Large DNA virus promoted the endosymbiotic evolution to make a photosynthetic eukaryote

This study shows that a large DNA virus played a key role in the rapid genome reorganization and gene transfer during the endosymbiotic evolution of a photosynthetic amoeba.

Dinoflagellates with relic endosymbiont nuclei as novel models for elucidating organellogenesis

This study identifies two dinoflagellates with nucleomorphs and ongoing DNA transfer between host and endosymbiont, offering new models for studying organellogenesis.

Phylogenomics places orphan protistan lineages in a novel eukaryotic super-group

The paper uses phylogenomic analysis to place orphan protist lineages into a novel eukaryotic super-group, CRuMs, and clarifies their relationship to Amorphea.