Genome of Ca. Pandoraea novymonadis, an Endosymbiotic Bacterium of the Trypanosomatid Novymonas esmeraldas

We have sequenced, annotated, and analyzed the genome of Ca. Pandoraea novymonadis, a recently described bacterial endosymbiont of the trypanosomatid Novymonas esmeraldas. When compared with genomes of its free-living relatives, it has all the hallmarks of the endosymbionts’ genomes, such as significantly reduced size, extensive gene loss, low GC content, numerous gene rearrangements, and low codon usage bias. In addition, Ca. P. novymonadis lacks mobile elements, has a strikingly low number of pseudogenes, and almost all genes are single copied. This suggests that it already passed the intensive period of host adaptation, which still can be observed in the genome of Polynucleobacter necessarius, a certainly recent endosymbiont. Phylogenetically, Ca. P. novymonadis is more related to P. necessarius, an intracytoplasmic bacterium of free-living ciliates, than to Ca. Kinetoplastibacterium spp., the only other known endosymbionts of trypanosomatid flagellates. As judged by the extent of the overall genome reduction and the loss of particular metabolic abilities correlating with the increasing dependence of the symbiont on its host, Ca. P. novymonadis occupies an intermediate position P. necessarius and Ca. Kinetoplastibacterium spp. We conclude that the relationships between Ca. P. novymonadis and N. esmeraldas are well-established, although not as fine-tuned as in the case of Strigomonadinae and their endosymbionts

Extensive molecular tinkering in the evolution of the membrane attachment mode of the Rheb GTPase

Rheb is a conserved and widespread Ras-like GTPase involved in cell growth regulation mediated by the (m)TORC1 kinase complex and implicated in tumourigenesis in humans. Rheb function depends on its association with membranes via prenylated C-terminus, a mechanism shared with many other eukaryotic GTPases. Strikingly, our analysis of a phylogenetically rich sample of Rheb sequences revealed that in multiple lineages this canonical and ancestral membrane attachment mode has been variously altered. The modifications include: (1) accretion to the N-terminus of two different phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate-binding domains, PX in Cryptista (the fusion being the first proposed synapomorphy of this clade), and FYVE in Euglenozoa and the related undescribed flagellate SRT308; (2) acquisition of lipidic modifications of the N-terminal region, namely myristoylation and/or S-palmitoylation in seven different protist lineages; (3) acquisition of S-palmitoylation in the hypervariable C-terminal region of Rheb in apusomonads, convergently to some other Ras family proteins; (4) replacement of the C-terminal prenylation motif with four transmembrane segments in a novel Rheb paralog in the SAR clade; (5) loss of an evident C-terminal membrane attachment mechanism in Tremellomycetes and some Rheb paralogs of Euglenozoa. Rheb evolution is thus surprisingly dynamic and presents a spectacular example of molecular tinkering

A “How To” Guidebook for Event Planning, Case: Power to Change ry

This thesis is built on the basic structure of report writing at Haaga-Helia. I will begin the thesis by outlining the goals and aims of the product. These goals are based on the instructions I received in the course “Thesis and Methods” and from my own professional experience in the area of planning processes, as well as on the needs of the commissioning party, Power to Change ry. After explaining the goals of the thesis, I will then introduce the commissioning party by explaining its history and the activities in which it engages. To dive into the field of event designing, I will then talk about the key concepts of event planning and event management. I will take the meetings of a small business event as an example to explain this topic. In section three, I will show the “backstage” processes of my work, including how I planned to write the thesis, as well as show what methods I used to get the information that was relevant to my product. The product of this thesis will function as a guidebook for the future event planning team of Power to Change ry. I have worked in this organisation for five years, and have studied in Haaga-Helia for four years, which has increased my passion, experience, and knowledge in event planning, as well as launching my current career in wedding planning. This book will aid in clear and concise event planning, as well as helping planning teams avoid some of the major mistakes commonly made in organising events. This guidebook will serve to assist a person in every step of planning an event, such as the ones organised by Power to Change ry, from creating an initial event team to the final minutes before, and the responsibilities during, the actual event. In addition to outlining the full structure of organising an event, this book presents the most important “dos and don’ts” of event planning. My product will be used for events of all sizes, from simple meetings to full weekend conferences or trips. Each type of event has its own specific planning process, timeline, and “to-do” list. By using the step-by-step guide presented in this thesis, an event team will have the benefit of knowing exactly what to do, and when, for each kind of event they will be organising in the future. This step-by-step guide informs a planning team when to begin each part of the planning process, and it lays out a timeline for each kind of event. Since the creation of this thesis idea in early Autumn of 2018, and throughout the process of writing it, I have used the guidebook contained in it to successfully plan three team meetings, as well as one larger conference. Because of the clear instructions and guidance of this book, these events were planned and completed smoothly and with ease. In addition, fewer mistakes were made in the process. While organising these events, I monitored and evaluated the process of planning in order to gain the most relevant information for the future product of this thesis. I used the events organised by Power to Change ry in my time as a volunteer, as well as the personal weddings I have organised for my business, to collect data and experience on what is needed to successfully plan different styles of events

Mitochondrial genomes revisited: why do different lineages retain different genes?

Abstract The mitochondria contain their own genome derived from an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont. From thousands of protein-coding genes originally encoded by their ancestor, only between 1 and about 70 are encoded on extant mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes). Thanks to a dramatically increasing number of sequenced and annotated mitogenomes a coherent picture of why some genes were lost, or relocated to the nucleus, is emerging. In this review, we describe the characteristics of mitochondria-to-nucleus gene transfer and the resulting varied content of mitogenomes across eukaryotes. We introduce a ‘burst-upon-drift’ model to best explain nuclear-mitochondrial population genetics with flares of transfer due to genetic drift

Trypanosomatids Are Much More than Just Trypanosomes: Clues from the Expanded Family Tree.

Trypanosomes and leishmanias are widely known parasites of humans. However, they are just two out of several phylogenetic lineages that constitute the family Trypanosomatidae. Although dixeny - the ability to infect two hosts - is a derived trait of vertebrate-infecting parasites, the majority of trypanosomatids are monoxenous. Like their common ancestor, the monoxenous Trypanosomatidae are mostly parasites or commensals of insects. This review covers recent advances in the study of insect trypanosomatids, highlighting their diversity as well as genetic, morphological and biochemical complexity, which, until recently, was underappreciated. The investigation of insect trypanosomatids is providing an important foundation for understanding the origin and evolution of parasitism, including colonization of vertebrates and the appearance of human pathogens

Trypanosomatids Are Much More than Just Trypanosomes: Clues from the Expanded Family Tree.

Trypanosomes and leishmanias are widely known parasites of humans. However, they are just two out of several phylogenetic lineages that constitute the family Trypanosomatidae. Although dixeny - the ability to infect two hosts - is a derived trait of vertebrate-infecting parasites, the majority of trypanosomatids are monoxenous. Like their common ancestor, the monoxenous Trypanosomatidae are mostly parasites or commensals of insects. This review covers recent advances in the study of insect trypanosomatids, highlighting their diversity as well as genetic, morphological and biochemical complexity, which, until recently, was underappreciated. The investigation of insect trypanosomatids is providing an important foundation for understanding the origin and evolution of parasitism, including colonization of vertebrates and the appearance of human pathogens