Nature and Science are renowned for publishing the highest-quality peer-reviewed research across all fields of science and technology, with articles that consistently rank among the most cited globally. While Cell focuses on experimental biology, its impact is equally profound. Tomáš Pánek provides a summary of the latest protistology research published in these prestigious journals.
A robustly rooted tree of eukaryotes reveals their eukaryotic ancestry
Williamson et al., March 12, 2025, Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08709-5
A research team including Alastair Simpson, Chair of the ISOP Systematics and Nomenclature Committee, along with other ISOP members, has estimated the position of the root of the eukaryotic tree of life using state-of-the-art phylogenetic models and a comprehensive evaluation of alternative hypotheses. Their findings place the eukaryotic root between two multi-supergroup assemblages: ‘Opimoda+’ and ‘Diphoda+’. Notably, groups containing ‘typical excavates’ appear on both sides of the root, suggesting that the complex features of the ‘excavate’ cell architecture can be traced back to the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA).
Turf algae redefine the chemical landscape of temperate reefs, limiting kelp forest recovery
Farrell et al. May 22, 2025, Science DOI: 10.1126/science.adt6788
“Kelp creates dense underwater forests in coastal temperate waters, providing habitat for numerous ecologically and economically important animals. Recently, kelp forests in warming waters have been replaced by qualitatively different beds of red algae. “Turf algae” appear to prevent kelp recovery, creating an alternative stable state. Farrell et al. combined metabolomics and laboratory experiments to show that turf algae in the Gulf of Maine in the US release allelopathic chemicals that inhibit kelp recruitment (see the Perspective by Feehan and Filbee-Dexter). This study demonstrated that chemically mediated species interactions play an important role in temperate reefs, much as in terrestrial systems and tropical reefs, and that regional interventions and curbing climate change may be necessary to facilitate kelp forest recovery.“ Bianca Lopez
Cryptic infection of a giant virus in a unicellular green alga
Erazo-Garcia, Maria P., et al. May 15, 2025 DOI: 10.1126/science.ads6303
An active GEVE in C. reinhardtii produces virions and establishes a cryptic infection.
“Species of the green alga Chlamydomonas have long been used as a model organism for eukaryote biology and photosynthesis. Only recently has this alga been discovered to be host to a giant, 617,000–base pair DNA virus that is integrated into the algal genome. Using long-read sequencing, Erazo-Garcia et al. found that this giant endogenous viral element can produce active virus particles from apparently healthy algal cultures and in wild populations. The widespread presence of virus relicts hints that virus integration is common in this alga and that selection is acting to deactivate them. This giant virus contains several RNA-guided nucleases that are encoded by mobile sequences and, along with other proteins, these nucleases are packaged into its particles.“ Caroline Ash
In-cell architecture of the mitochondrial respiratory chain
Waltz et al. March 20, 2025, Science DOI: 10.1126/science.ads8738
“The mitochondrial respiratory chain consists of membrane-integral complexes that build up the proton gradient across the membranes of the cristae, thereby powering ATP synthase. Waltz et al. used cryo–electron tomography to resolve native structures of these complexes directly within the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Their findings reveal how respiratory complexes I, III, and IV assemble into a respirasome supercomplex, which is restricted to flat membrane regions apart from rows of ATP synthase at the curved tips of cristae. The work also captures fine structural details of how respirasomes are held together and how electron-carrier proteins bind these assemblies, offering insights into mitochondrial respiration inside native cells.” Stella M. Hurtley
Evolutionary adaptations of doublet microtubules in trypanosomatid parasites
Doran et al. March 14, 2025, Science DOI: 10.1126/science.adr5507
Structural and functional analysis of trypanosomatid doublet microtubules.
“Trypanosomatids are parasites transmitted by insects that cause lethal and debilitating diseases in humans and other vertebrates. These parasites depend on a tail-like oscillating appendage called a flagellum to travel within their insect carriers or vertebrate hosts. The movement of the flagellum is generated by an enormous internal protein-based machine called the axoneme. Xia et al. used high-resolution cryo–electron microscopy to reveal the intricate structure and connections of the flagellum components of Trypanosoma brucei. They identified components specific to the parasite and uncovered how molecular motors drive the movement. Doran et al. defined individual components of the axoneme and identified a cluster of proteins that are essential for the parasite’s ability to swim properly. Together, these studies shed light on flagellum biology, evolution, and function; enhance our understanding of parasite biology; and highlight potential drug targets to prevent parasite spread and infection.” Stella M. Hurtley
