Nitroplast: Difference between revisions
→External links: Created with "Baisas 2024" citation |
adding an image of the nitroplast inside the algae |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Braarudosphaera Bigelowii Nitroplast.webp|thumb|An image of a nitroplast inside of Braarudosphaera Bigelowii, labeled with a black arrow.]] |
|||
A '''nitroplast''' is an [[organelle]] found in certain species of [[algae]], particularly in ''[[Braarudosphaera bigelowii]]''.<ref name="nature.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01046-z|title=Scientists discover first algae that can fix nitrogen — thanks to a tiny cell structure|date=11 April 2024|publisher=Nature.com|first=Carissa|last=Wong|access-date=16 April 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240414144507/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01046-z|archive-date=14 April 2024}}</ref> It plays a crucial role in [[nitrogen fixation]], a process previously thought to be exclusive to [[bacteria]] and [[archaea]].<ref name="nature.com"/> The discovery of nitroplasts has significant implications for both cellular biology and [[agricultural science]]. |
A '''nitroplast''' is an [[organelle]] found in certain species of [[algae]], particularly in ''[[Braarudosphaera bigelowii]]''.<ref name="nature.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01046-z|title=Scientists discover first algae that can fix nitrogen — thanks to a tiny cell structure|date=11 April 2024|publisher=Nature.com|first=Carissa|last=Wong|access-date=16 April 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240414144507/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01046-z|archive-date=14 April 2024}}</ref> It plays a crucial role in [[nitrogen fixation]], a process previously thought to be exclusive to [[bacteria]] and [[archaea]].<ref name="nature.com"/> The discovery of nitroplasts has significant implications for both cellular biology and [[agricultural science]]. |
||
Revision as of 22:21, 19 April 2024
A nitroplast is an organelle found in certain species of algae, particularly in Braarudosphaera bigelowii.[1] It plays a crucial role in nitrogen fixation, a process previously thought to be exclusive to bacteria and archaea.[1] The discovery of nitroplasts has significant implications for both cellular biology and agricultural science.
Discovery
The existence of nitroplasts was first proposed by researchers studying the interaction between the marine algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii and a bacterium called UCYN-A in 2012. Initially, it was hypothesized that UCYN-A facilitated nitrogen fixation, providing compounds like ammonia to the algae. However, subsequent studies led by ocean ecologist Jonathan Zehr at the University of California, Santa Cruz, revealed that UCYN-A should not be considered separate organisms, but organelles within the algae.[1]
Structure and function
Nitroplasts exhibit typical organelle characteristics, meeting two key criteria: they are inherited through cell division and rely on proteins provided by the host cell.[1] Through imaging studies, researchers observed that nitroplasts divide along with the host cell, ensuring their passage to the daughter cells.[1]
Implications
The discovery of nitroplasts challenges previous notions about the exclusivity of nitrogen fixation to prokaryotic organisms. Understanding the structure and function of nitroplasts opens up possibilities for genetic engineering in plants.[1] By incorporating genes responsible for nitroplast function, researchers aim to develop crops capable of fixing their own nitrogen, potentially reducing the need for nitrogen-based fertilizers and mitigating environmental damage.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Wong, Carissa (11 April 2024). "Scientists discover first algae that can fix nitrogen — thanks to a tiny cell structure". Nature.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
Further reading
- Coale, Tyler H; Loconte, Valentina; Turk-Kubo, Kendra A and; Vanslembrouck, Bieke; Mak, Wing Kwan Esther; Cheung, Shunyan; Ekman, Axel; Chen, Jian-Hua; Hagino, Kyoko and; Takano, Yoshihito; Nishimura, Tomohiro; Adachi, Masao and; Le Gros, Mark; Larabell, Carolyn; Zehr, Jonathan P (April 2024). "Nitrogen-fixing organelle in a marine alga". Science. 384 (6692): 217–222.
External links
- Baisas, Laura (2024-04-18). "For the first time in one billion years, two lifeforms truly merged into one organism". Popular Science. Retrieved 2024-04-19.