PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Huanle Liu
AU  - Timothy G. Stephens
AU  - Raúl A. González-Pech
AU  - Victor H. Beltran
AU  - Bruno Lapeyre
AU  - Pim Bongaerts
AU  - Ira Cooke
AU  - David G. Bourne
AU  - Sylvain Forêt
AU  - David J. Miller
AU  - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
AU  - Christian R. Voolstra
AU  - Mark A. Ragan
AU  - Cheong Xin Chan
TI  - <em>Symbiodinium</em> genomes reveal adaptive evolution of functions related to symbiosis
AID  - 10.1101/198762
DP  - 2017 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 198762
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/10/05/198762.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/10/05/198762.full
AB  - Symbiosis between dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium and reef-building corals forms the trophic foundation of the world’s coral reef ecosystems. Here we present the first draft genome of Symbiodinium goreaui (Clade C, type C1: 1.03 Gbp), one of the most ubiquitous endosymbionts associated with corals, and an improved draft genome of Symbiodinium kawagutii (Clade F, strain CS-156: 1.05 Gbp), previously sequenced as strain CCMP2468, to further elucidate genomic signatures of this symbiosis. Comparative analysis of four available Symbiodinium genomes against other dinoflagellate genomes led to the identification of 2460 nuclear gene families that show evidence of positive selection, including genes involved in photosynthesis, transmembrane ion transport, synthesis and modification of amino acids and glycoproteins, and stress response. Further, we identified extensive sets of genes for meiosis and response to light stress. These draft genomes provide a foundational resource for advancing our understanding Symbiodinium biology and the coral-algal symbiosis.