Glaucophyte
The glaucophytes are a small group of freshwater microscopic algae.[1] Together with the red algae (Rhodophyta) and green algae plus land plants (Viridiplantae or Chloroplastida), they form the Archaeplastida.
| Glaucophyta | |
|---|---|
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| Glaucocystis sp. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Glaucophyta |
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The glaucophytes are of interest because they may be similar to the original algal type that led to green plants and red algae.[1][2] The relationships between these groups are not yet clear,[3] and the glaucophytes in particular need more study.
Characteristics
The chloroplasts of glaucophytes are known as 'cyanelles'. Unlike the chloroplasts in other organisms, they have a peptidoglycan layer, like bacterial cell walls. This is thought to be a relic of the endosymbiotic origin of plastids from cyanobacteria.[1]
Glaucophytes have the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll a.[1] They harvest light with the same type of pigment molecules as do cyanobacteria and red algae.[1] Green algae and land plants have lost that pigment, which is known as phycobiliprotein.[4]
Glaucophyte mitochondria and flagella (if present) are similar to forms found in some green algae.[4]
Classification
Only 13 species of glaucophytes are known, none of which is particularly common in nature.[1] There are three genera.
The glaucophytes were previously placed in the order Chlorococcales.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Patrick J. Keeling. Diversity and evolutionary history of plastids and their hosts. American Journal of Botany 91 (10) (2004). p. 1481–1493. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.10.1481. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
- ↑ Kim, Eunsoo & Graham, Linda E.. EEF2 analysis challenges the monophyly of Archaeplastida and Chromalveolata. PLOS ONE 3 (7) (2008). p. e2621. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002621.
- ↑ Palme J.D; Soltis D.E. & Chase M.W.. The plant tree of life: an overview and some points of view. American Journal of Botany 91 (10) (2004). p. 1437–1445. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.10.1437. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Skuja A. 1948. Taxonomie des Phytoplanktons einiger Seen in Uppland, Schweden. Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses 9 (3): 1-399.
- ↑ Glaucocystis