Improved Reference Genome for Cyclotella cryptica CCMP332, a Model for Cell Wall Morphogenesis, Salinity Adaptation, and Lipid Production in Diatoms (Bacillariophyta)

G3 (Bethesda). 2020 Sep 2;10(9):2965-2974. doi: 10.1534/g3.120.401408.

Abstract

The diatom, Cyclotella cryptica, is a well-established model species for physiological studies and biotechnology applications of diatoms. To further facilitate its use as a model diatom, we report an improved reference genome assembly and annotation for C. cryptica strain CCMP332. We used a combination of long- and short-read sequencing to assemble a high-quality and contaminant-free genome. The genome is 171 Mb in size and consists of 662 scaffolds with a scaffold N50 of 494 kb. This represents a 176-fold decrease in scaffold number and 41-fold increase in scaffold N50 compared to the previous assembly. The genome contains 21,250 predicted genes, 75% of which were assigned putative functions. Repetitive DNA comprises 59% of the genome, and an improved classification of repetitive elements indicated that a historically steady accumulation of transposable elements has contributed to the relatively large size of the C. cryptica genome. The high-quality C. cryptica genome will serve as a valuable reference for ecological, genetic, and biotechnology studies of diatoms.

Keywords: algal biofuels; horizontal gene transfer; lipids; nanopore; transposable elements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Wall
  • Diatoms* / genetics
  • Lipids
  • Morphogenesis
  • Salinity

Substances

  • Lipids