Solenicola setigera is the first characterized memberof the abundant and cosmopolitan uncultured marine stramenopile group MAST-3
Culture-independent molecular methods based on the amplification, cloning and sequencing of smallsubunit (SSU) rRNA genes are a powerful tool to study the diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms for which morphological features are not conspicuous. In recent years, molecular data from environmental surveys have revealed several clades of protists lacking cultured and/or described members. Among them are various clades of marine stramenopiles (heterokonts), which are thought to play an essential ecological role as grazers, being abundant and distributed in oceans worldwide. In this work, we show that Solenicola setigera, a distinctive widespread colonial marine protist, is a member of the environmental clade MArine STramenopile 3 (MAST-3). Solenicola is generally considered as a parasite or an epiphyte of the diatom Leptocylindrus mediterraneus. So far, the ultrastructural, morphological and ecological data available were insufficient to elucidate its phylogenetic position, even at the division or class level. We determined SSU rRNA gene sequences of S. setigera specimens sampled from different locations and seasons in the type locality, the Gulf of Lions, France. They were closely related, though not identical, which, together with morphological differences under electron microscopy, suggest the occurrence of several species. Solenicola sequences were well nested within the MAST-3 clade in phylogenetic trees. Since Solenicola is the first identified member of this abundant marine clade, we propose the name Solenicolida for the MAST-3 phylogenetic group.
Culture-independent molecular methods based on
the amplification, cloning and sequencing of smallsubunit
(SSU) rRNA genes are a powerful tool to
study the diversity of prokaryotic and eukaryotic
microorganisms for which morphological features are
not conspicuous. In recent years, molecular data from
environmental surveys have revealed several clades
of protists lacking cultured and/or described
members. Among them are various clades of marine
stramenopiles (heterokonts), which are thought to
play an essential ecological role as grazers, being
abundant and distributed in oceans worldwide. In this
work, we show that Solenicola setigera, a distinctive
widespread colonial marine protist, is a member of
the environmental clade MArine STramenopile 3
(MAST-3). Solenicola is generally considered as a
parasite or an epiphyte of the diatom Leptocylindrus
mediterraneus. So far, the ultrastructural, morphological
and ecological data available were insufficient
to elucidate its phylogenetic position, even at the division
or class level. We determined SSU rRNA gene
sequences of S. setigera specimens sampled from
different locations and seasons in the type locality,
the Gulf of Lions, France. They were closely related,
though not identical, which, together with morphological
differences under electron microscopy,
suggest the occurrence of several species. Solenicola
sequences were well nested within the MAST-3
clade in phylogenetic trees. Since Solenicola is the
first identified member of this abundant marine clade,
we propose the name Solenicolida for the MAST-3
phylogenetic group.
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Supporting information<br />
Additional Supporting Information may be found in <strong>the</strong> online<br />
version of th<strong>is</strong> article:<br />
File S1. Multiple alignment of <strong>the</strong> 18S rRNA sequences used<br />
in th<strong>is</strong> study. The alignment <strong>is</strong> in NEXUS format.<br />
Videos S1–S3. Videos showing living colonies of <strong>Solenicola</strong><br />
under optical microscopy.<br />
Please note: Wiley-Blackwell are not responsible for <strong>the</strong><br />
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should be directed to <strong>the</strong> corresponding author for <strong>the</strong> article.<br />
© 2010 Society for Applied Microbiology <strong>and</strong> Blackwell Publ<strong>is</strong>hing Ltd, Environmental Microbiology, 13, 193–202
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