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The following is a list of archived papers and developments/news relevant to Volvocales.


2012

June

  • Description of two new monoecious species of Volvox sect. Volvox  (Volvocaceae, Chlorophyceae), based on comparative morphology and molecualr phylogeny of cultured material. 2012. Nanako Isaka, Hiroko Kawai-Toyooka, Ryo Matsuzaki, Takashi Nakada and Hisayoshi Nozaki. J. Phycology 48(3): 759-767.
  • Evidence for tubular mating structures induced in each mating type of heterothallic Gonium pectorale (Volvocales, Chlorophyta). 2012. Yuko Mogi, Takashi Hamaji, Masahiro Suzuki, Patrick Ferris, Toshiyuki Mori, Yukihiro Kabeya, Shin-ya Miyagishima and Hisayoshi Nozaki; J. Phycology. 48(3): 670-674
  • A comparative analysis of the Volvocaceae (Chlorophyta). 2012. A.W. Coleman. J. Phycology. 48(3): 491-513

May

January

  • Dynamic Evolution of Telomeric Sequences in the Green Algal Order Chlamydomonadales
    Author(s): Fulneckova Jana; Hasikova Tereza; Fajkus Jiri; et al.
    Source: GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION  Volume: 4   Issue: 3   Pages: 248-264

2011

December

  • Evolution of sex and mating loci: An expanded view from Volvocine algae
    Author(s): Umen James G.
    Source: CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY  Volume: 14   Issue: 6   Pages: 634-641

September

  • Flagellar phenotypic plasticity in volvocalean algae correlates with Peclet number
    Author(s): Solari Cristian A.; Drescher Knut; Ganguly Sujoy; et al.
    Source: JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE  Volume: 8   Issue: 63   Pages: 1409-1417   DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2011.0023   Published: OCT 7 2011

July

  • A post-doctoral Research Associate position is available fall 2011 at Kansas State University in the Division of Biology to study multicellular evolution using algae as a model system.  This is a cross-disciplinary position and preference will be given to those with demonstrated experience in any of these areas: genome/transcriptome sequencing, genetic screening, molecular cell biology, or algal biology.  Computational biology experience is highly desired.  The successful candidate will have access to state of the art facilities and the ability to work collaboratively within Kansas State and with national and international collaborators.  A highly motivated career oriented candidate is most preferred.  Salary will be commensurate with experience.    

    Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a one-page summary of their past research accomplishments and a one page summary of future research interests and career goals to Dr. Bradley Olson at biology@k-state.edu.  In addition, applicants should arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the same email address. 

    Kansas State University is an equal opportunity employer and highly encourages diversity among its employees.  Background checks are required for all employees.
    The official posting: http://www.k-state.edu/biology/position_openings/olson_pd.html). Laboratory home: http://www.k-state.edu/olsonlab/

June

  • A NEW SPECIES OF VOLVOX SECT. MERRILLOSPHAERA (VOLVOCACEAE, CHLOROPHYCEAE) FROM TEXAS.   Nozaki H and Coleman AW.  JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY   Volume: 47   Issue: 3   Pages: 673-679   

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Hallmann A. Evolution of reproductive development in the volvocine algae. Sexual Plant Reproduction. 24(2):97-112

May

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Cristian A. Solari , Knut Drescher and Raymond E. Goldstein.  The Flagellar Photoresponse in Volvox species (Volvocaceae, Chlorophyceae) J. Phycol. 47(3): 580-583. DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.00983.x

April

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Setohigashi Y, Hamaji T, Hayama M, et al. Uniparental Inheritance of Chloroplast DNA Is Strict in the Isogamous Volvocalean Gonium. PLOS ONE 6(4): e19545

March

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Cristian A. Solari, Knut Drescher, Sujoy Ganguly, John O. Kessler, Richard E. Michod and Raymond E. Goldstein. Flagellar phenotypic plasticity in volvocalean algae correlates with Péclet number. J. R. Soc. Interface doi: 10.1098/rsif.2011.0023

January

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The 1st Volvox International Meeting to be held at the Biosphere 2 is in the planning stage; check back for updates.

2010

December

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Volvox made it on the poster for the XIth Biocomplexity Workshop on the Evolution of Cooperation at the Indiana University

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Nishii, I., and Miller, S.M. (2010) Volvox: simple steps to developmental complexity? Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 13:1-8.

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Nordhues A., Miller S.M., Mühlhaus T., Schroda M. (2010) New insights into the roles of molecular chaperones in Chlamydomonas and Volvox. Int. Rev. Cell Mol. Biol. 285:75-113.

November

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Watch live Volvox in a JGI story about the Volvox genome at Make science visible

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Volvox, Chlamydomonas, and the Evolution of Multicellularity. Miller, S. M. (2010) Nature Education 3(9):65

October

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Direct Measurement of the Flow Field around Swimming Microorganisms. Drescher K, Goldstein RE, Michel N, et al.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS   Volume: 105   Issue: 16 Article Number:
168101

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Fluid Velocity Fluctuations in a Suspension of Swimming Protists. Rushkin I, Kantsler V, Goldstein RE. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS   Volume: 105   Issue: 18 Article Number: 188101

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Low Nucleotide Diversity for the Expanded Organelle and Nuclear Genomes of Volvox carteri Supports the Mutational-Hazard Hypothesis. Smith DR, Lee RW. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION   Volume: 27   Issue: 10   Pages: 2244-2256

August

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Another Origin of Coloniality in Volvocaleans: The Phylogenetic Position of Pyrobotrys Arnoldi (Spondylomoraceae, Volvocales). Nakada T, Nozaki H, Tomita M. JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY   Volume: 57   Issue: 4   Pages: 379-382

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How 5000 independent rowers coordinate their strokes in order to row into the sunlight: Phototaxis in the multicellular green alga Volvox. Ueki N, Matsunaga S, Inouye I, Hallmann A. BMC Biology 8:103.

July

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Volvox Genome Shows It Doesn't Take Much to Be Multicellular. Pennisi E. SCIENCE   Volume: 329   Issue: 5988   Pages: 128-129

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Genomic Analysis of Organismal Complexity in the Multicellular Green Alga Volvox carteri. Prochnik SE, Umen J, Nedelcu AM, et al. SCIENCE   Volume: 329 Issue: 5988   Pages: 223-22

-This week in Science

-Science News of the week

-Science daily

June

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Fidelity of adaptive phototaxis. Drescher K, Goldstein RE, Tuval I. PNAS. Volume: 107   Issue: 25   Pages: 11171-11176

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International Chlamydomonas Conference 2010

see Chlamydomonas 2010 Abstracts

May

bullet Morphology, molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of Gonium maiaprilis sp nov (Goniaceae, Chlorophyta) from Japan. Hayama M, Nakada T, Hamaji T, et al. PHYCOLOGIA   Volume: 49   Issue: 3   Pages: 221-234

April

bullet Evolution of an Expanded Sex-Determining Locus in Volvox. Ferris P, Olson BJSC, De Hoff PL, et al. SCIENCE   vol 328   Issue: 5976   Pages: 351-354
bullet EVOLUTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS IN VOLVOX (CHLOROPHYTA). Herron MD, Desnitskiy AG, Michod RE. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY   Volume: 46   Issue: 2   Pages: 316-324

March

bullet The mitochondrial and plastid genomes of Volvox carteri: bloated molecules rich in repetitive DNA. Smith DR, Lee RW. BMC GENOMICS   Volume: 10 Article Number: 132

February

bullet Life and light - The male gene. Hisayoshi Nozaki

January

bullet The creation of form in multicellular organisms
as seen through the volvox
.
Ichiro Nishii, Biohistory Jyournal, Winter, 2003

December

bullet IDENTIFICATION OF THE MINUS MATING-TYPE SPECIFIC GENE MTD1 FROM GONIUM PECTORALE (VOLVOCALES, CHLOROPHYTA) Hamaji T, Ferris PJ, Nishii I, et al. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY   Volume: 45   Issue: 6   Pages: 1310-1314
bullet Environmentally induced responses co-opted for reproductive altruism. Nedelcu AM. BIOLOGY LETTERS   Volume: 5   Issue: 6   Pages: 805-808

October

bullet Functional analysis of the Volvox carteri asymmetric division protein GlsA.  Pappas V, Miller SM. MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT   Volume: 126   Issue: 10   Pages: 842-851  

September

bullet Channelrhodopsins of Volvox carteri Are Photochromic Proteins That Are Specifically Expressed in Somatic Cells under Control of Light, Temperature, and the Sex Inducer. Kianianmomeni A, Stehfest K, Nematollahi G, et al. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY   151:1   Pages: 347-366

July

bullet Stable nuclear transformation of Gonium pectorale
Lerche K, Hallmann A. BMC BIOTECHNOLOGY  9: 64
bullet Volvox (Chlorophyta, Volvocales) as a model organism in developmental biology. Ontogenez. Desnitskiy A.G. (2009) Vol. 40. No 4. pp. 238-241
bullet Key elements of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor pathway in Volvox carteri.  Hallmann A. Commun. Integr. Biol. 2 (in press).
bullet Stable nuclear transformation of Gonium pectorale. Lerche, K. & Hallmann, A. BMC Biotechnol. 9, 64.

June

bulletA Volvox inversionless mutant highlights the importance of the extracellular matrix in morphogenesis. Eckardt NA. Plant Cell 21:1029.
bulletControlled enlargement of the glycoprotein vesicle surrounding a Volvox embryo requires the InvB nucleotide-sugar transporter and is required for normal morphogenesis. Ueki N & Nishii I. Plant Cell 21: 1166-1181.

May

bullet Many from one: lessons from the volvocine algae on the evolution of multicellularity. Matt Herron. Communicative & Integrative Biology.

April

bulletDancing Volvox: Hydrodynamic Bound States of Swimming Algae. Drescher K, Leptos KC, Tuval I, Ishikawa T, Pedley TJ, Goldstein RE. Phys.Rev.Let. vol 102:16; DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.168101

- Volvox made the Cover of Physical Review Letters

- also read the ScienceNow article: Pond Scum to Pond Scum: "Shall We Dance?" and see Volvox dance

March

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The mitochondrial and plastid genomes of Volvox carteri: bloated molecules rich in repetitive DNA.  Smith DR and Lee RW. BMC Genomics 10:132

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Triassic origin and early radiation of multicellular volvocine algae. Herron MD, Hackett JD, Aylward FO, Michod RE. PNAS 106: 3254-3258

January

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A nice report on last summer's Chlamydomonas Meeting

December

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Idaten is a new cold-inducible transposon of Volvox carteri that can be used for tagging developmentally important genes. Ueki N and Nishii I. Genetics 180:1343-1353

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A new male-specific gene "OTOKOGI" in Pleodorina starrii (Volvocaceae, Chlorophyta) unveils the origin of male and female. Nozaki H.  Biologia. 63: 772-777.

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Zygote germination in Pleodorina starrii (Volvocaceae, Chlorophyta). Nozaki H.  Biologia. 63: 778-780.

November

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Volvox barberi, the fastest swimmer of the Volvocales (Chlorophyceae). Solari CA, Michod RE, Goldstein RE. J Phycology 44, 1395-1398

September

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A gender-specific retinoblastoma-related protein in Volvox carteri implies a role for the retinoblastoma protein family in sexual development. Arash Kianianmomeni, Ghazaleh Nematollahi, and Armin Hallmann. The Plant Cell, Vol. 20: 2399–2419

August

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A taxonomic study of Eudorina unicocca (Volvocaceae, Chlorophyceae) and related species, based on morphology and molecular phylogeny
Yamada TK, Miyaji K, Nozaki H
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY   Volume: 43   Issue: 3   Pages: 317-326   

July

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Molecular systematics of Volvocales (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) based on exhaustive 18S rRNA phylogenetic analyses
Nakada T, Misawa K, Nozaki H
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION   Volume: 48   Issue: 1   Pages: 281-291

June

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Red-shifted optogenetic excitation: a tool for fast neural control derived from Volvox carteri
Zhang F, Prigge M, Beyriere F, et al.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE   Volume: 11   Issue: 6   Pages:
631-633

May

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13th International Chlamydomonas Conference - see Abstracts submitted

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Resolving the first steps to multicellularity
Sachs JL. TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION   Volume: 23   Issue: 5   Pages: 245-248

March

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On the problem of ecological evolution in Volvox
Desnitskiy AG. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY   Volume: 39   Issue: 2   Pages: 122-124

February

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Evolution of complexity in the volvocine algae: Transitions in individuality through Darwin's eye. Herron MD, Michod RE.  EVOLUTION   Volume: 62   Issue: 2   Pages: 436-451

bullet VCRPs, small cysteine-rich proteins, might be involved in extracellular signaling in the green alga Volvox. Hallmann, A. Plant Signal. Behav. 3, 124‑127.

January

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Vectorette PCR-primed transposon display using the Jordan transposon in Volvox carteri: An efficient tool that analyzes more than 300 Jordan-Derived PCR fragments to retrieve tagged genes
Ishida K. PROTIST   Volume: 159   Issue: 1   Pages: 5-19   

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Identification of the minus-dominance gene ortholog in the mating-type locus of Gonium pectorale
Hamaji T, Ferris PJ, Coleman AW, et al. GENETICS   Volume: 178   Issue: 1   Pages: 283-294

 

 

2007

November

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Ishida K
Sexual pheromone induces diffusion of the pheromone-homologous polypeptide in the extracellular matrix of Volvox carteri 
EUKARYOTIC CELL 6 (11): 2157-2162 NOV 2007

October

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Merchant SS, Prochnik SE, Vallon O, et al.
The Chlamydomonas genome reveals the evolution of key animal and plant functions 
SCIENCE 318 (5848): 245-251 OCT 12 2007

August

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Hallmann A
A small cysteine-rich extracellular protein, VCRP, is inducible by the sex-inducer of Volvox carteri and by wounding 
PLANTA 226 (3): 719-727

July

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Duncan L, Nishii I, Harryman A, et al.
The VARL gene family and the evolutionary origins of the master cell-type regulatory gene, regA, in Volvox carteri 
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION 65 (1): 1-11

June

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The release of the Volvox carteri genome draft at the Joint Genome Institute.

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Solari CA, Kessler JO, Goldstein RE
Motility, mixing, and multicellularity 
GENETIC PROGRAMMING AND EVOLVABLE MACHINES 8 (2): 115-129 JUN 2007

May

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Michod RE
Evolution of individuality during the transition from unicellular to multicellular life 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 104: 8613-8618 Suppl. 1

April

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Check out new movies of Volvox barberi hatching, Volvox carteri rolling, and flagellar beating in Volvox carteri; visit Cristian Solari's and Ray Goldstein's webpages

February

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Maintenance DNA methyltransferase (Met1) and silencing of CpG-methylated foreign DNA in Volvox carteri. P. Babinger, R. Volkl, I. Cakstina, A. Maftei, and R. Schmitt. Plant Mol. Biol. 63: 325-336.

January

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Quantitative analysis of cell-type specific gene expression in the green alga Volvox carteri. Ghazaleh Nematollahi, Arash Kianianmomeni, and Armin Hallmann. BMC Genomics 2006, 7:321     doi:10.1186/1471-2164-7-321
 

2006

December

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Summary of sex-induction and zygote germination protocols for volvocine algae - Contributed by Matt Herron (University of Arizona)

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Oogamy: Inventing the Sexes
Current Biology, vol. 16, No 24, Pages R1028-R1030
David L. Kirk

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Males evolved from the dominant isogametic mating type
Current Biology, vol. 16, No 24, Pages R1018-R1020
Hisayoshi Nozaki, Toshiyuki Mori, Osami Misumi, Sachihiro Matsunaga and Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa

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Hallmann A
Morphogenesis in the family Volvocaceae: Different tactics for turning an embryo right-side out 
PROTIST 157 (4): 445-461 OCT 2006

November

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Fukada K, Inoue T, Shiraishi H
A posttranslationally regulated protease, VheA, is involved in the liberation of juveniles from parental spheroids in Volvox carteri 
PLANT CELL 18 (10): 2554-2566 OCT 2006

October

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Babinger K, Hallmann A, Schmitt R
Translational control of regA, a key gene controlling cell differentiation in Volvox carteri 
DEVELOPMENT 133 (20): 4045-4051 OCT 15 2006

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Nozaki H, Ott FD, Coleman AW
Morphology, molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of two new species of Pleodorina (Volvoceae, Chlorophyceae) 
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 42 (5): 1072-1080 OCT 2006

September

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A wiki has been added to VIP!!!!! Visit and contribute to the new Volvocales wiki!!!!

August

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New Scientist and The Economist Stories on the finding of a Volvox RegA-like gene family in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Nedelcu AM and RE Michod. The evolutionary origin of an altruistic gene. Mol. Biol. Evol. 23: 1460-1464)

June-July

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Hallmann A, Wodniok S
Swapped green algal promoters: aphVIII-based gene constructs with Chlamydomonas flanking sequences work as dominant selectable markers in Volvox and vice versa 
PLANT CELL REPORTS 25 (6): 582-591 JUN 2006

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Short MB, Solari CA, Ganguly S, et al.
Flows driven by flagella of multicellular organisms enhance long-range molecular transport 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 103 (22): 8315-8319 MAY 30 2006

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Duncan L, Nishii I, Howard A, et al.
Orthologs and paralogs of regA, a master cell-type regulatory gene in Volvox carteri 
CURRENT GENETICS 50 (1): 61-72 JUL 2006

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Michod RE
The group covariance effect and fitness trade-offs during evolutionary transitions in individuality 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 103 (24): 9113-9117 JUN 13 2006

May

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Paper on a regA gene family in Chamydomonas reinhardtii: Nedelcu, AM and RE Michod. The evolutionary origin of an altruistic gene. Mol. Biol. Evol. 23: 1460-1464

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The 12th International conference on the cell and molecular biology of Chlamydomonas (May 9 - May 14, Portland, Oregon) has a session on Volvox !!!! http://www.genetics.wustl.edu/chlamy2006/

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Cheng Q, Hallmann A, Edwards L, et al.
Characterization of a heat-shock-inducible hsp70 gene of the green alga Volvox carteri 
GENE 371 (1): 112-120 APR 12 2006

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Nedelcu, AM. Evidence for p53-like-mediated stress responses in green algae. FEBS Letters 580:3013-3017

March & April

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Another three paper on Volvox et al. !!!!

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Cheng Q, Balzer E, Miller SM, Yoshida M, Wong JC. Effect of histone deacetylase inhibitors on tubulin acetylation and development in Volvox carteri (Volvocales). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 42 (2): 417-422 APR 2006

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Michod RE, Viossat Y, Solari CA, et al.
Life-history evolution and the origin of multicellularity JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY 239 (2): 257-272 MAR 21 2006

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Solari CA, Kessler JO, Michod RE
A hydrodynamics approach to the evolution of multicellularity: Flagellar motility and germ-soma differentiation in volvocalean green algae 
AMERICAN NATURALIST 167 (4): 537-554 APR 2006

February

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A new paper on Volvox et al. !!!! An interesting story on a new role for flagella in Volvox:  Solari CA, Kessler JO, Michod RE, and Goldstein RE.  Multicellularity and the functional interdependence of motility and molecular transport. PNAS 103 (5): 1353-1358 JAN 31 2006

January

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A list of Volvox available nucleotide sequences (by gene/feature for various Volvox species) with links to the GenBank records (courtesy of A. Nedelcu and M. English); follow the link or go to Research Tools

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A new paper on Volvox et al:

Hallmann, A. 2006. The pherophorins: common, versatile building blocks in the evolution of extracellular matrix architecture in Volvocales. The Plant Journal 45:292-307

2005

December

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Release of version 3.0 of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genome sequence at the JGI

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Web site for Chlamydomonas 2006 meeting. 12th International Conference on Cell and Molecular Biology of Chlamydomonas will be held May 9-14, 2006 in Portland, Oregon.

November

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A different way to look at the classification of volvocine algae

Yoshida H, Yokomori T, Suyama A. A simple classification of the volvocine algae by formal languages. BULLETIN OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY 67 (6): 1339-1354 NOV 2005

Abstract: There are several explanations of why certain primitive multicellular organisms aggregate in particular forms and why their constituent cells cooperate with one another to a particular degree. Utilizing the framework of formal language theory, we have derived one possible simple classification of the volvocine algae-one of the primitive multicells-for some forms of aggregation and some degrees of cooperation among cells. The volvocine algae range from the unicellular Chlamydomonas to the multicellular Volvox globator, which has thousands of cells. The classification we use in this paper is based on the complexity of Parikh sets of families on Chomsky hierarchy in formal language theory. We show that an alga with almost no space closed to the environment, e.g., Gonium pectorale, can be characterized by PsFIN, one with a closed space and no cooperation, e.g., Eudorina elegans, by PsCF, and one with a closed space and cooperation, e.g., Volvox globator, by Ps lambda SC. This classification should provide new insights into the necessity for specific forms and degrees of cooperation in the volvocine algae. (c) 2005 Society for Mathematical Biology.

October

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Three new articles on Volvox!!!!

Cheng Q, Pappas V, Hallmann A, et al. Hsp70A and GlsA interact as partner chaperones to regulate asymmetric division in Volvox. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 286 (2): 537-548 OCT 15 2005

Abstract: GlsA, a J-protein chaperone, is required for the asymmetric divisions that set aside germ and somatic cell precursors during embryogenesis in Volox carteri, and previous evidence indicated that this function requires an intact Hsp70-binding site. To determine if Hsp70A, the only known cytoplasmic Hsp70 in V. carteri, is the chaperone partner of GlsA, we investigated the localization of the two proteins during critical stages of embryogenesis and tested their capacity to interact. We found that a substantial fraction of Hsp70A co-localizes with GlsA, both in interphase and mitotic blastomeres. In addition, Hsp70A coimmunoprecipitated with GlsA, and co-expression of GlsA and Hsp70A variants partially rescued the Gls phenotype of a glsA mutant, whereas neither variant by itself rescued the mutant phenotype. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that GlsA is about equally abundant in all blastomeres at all cleavage stages examined but that Hsp70A is more abundant in anterior (asymmetrically dividing) blastomeres than in posterior (symmetrically dividing) blastomeres during the period of asymmetric division. We conclude that Hsp70A and GlsA function as chaperone partners that regulate asymmetric division and that the relative abundance of Hsp70A in asymmetrically dividing embryos may determine which blastomeres divide asymmetrically and which do not.

Aono N, Inoue T, Shiraishi H. Genes specifically expressed in sexually differentiated female spheroids of Volvox carteri. JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 138 (4): 375-382 OCT 2005

Abstract: Volvox carteri is a multicellular green alga with only two cell types, somatic cells and reproductive cells. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that this organism has evolved from a Chlamydomonas-like unicellular ancestor along with multicellularity, cellular differentiation, and a change in the mode of sexual reproduction from isogamy to oogamy. To examine the mechanism of sexual differentiation and the evolution of oogamy, we isolated 6 different cDNA sequences specifically expressed in sexually differentiated female spheroids. The genes for the cDNAs were designated SEF1 to SEF6. The time course of accumulation of each mRNA was shown to be distinct. The expression of some of these genes was not significantly affected when the sexual inducer was removed after the induction of sexual development. Sequence analysis indicates that SEF5 and SEF6 encode pherophorin-related proteins. Of these, SEF5 has the unique structural feature of a polyproline stretch in the C-terminal domain in addition to the one found in the central region.

 
Wadhwa V, Kumar S, Rai S, et al. A 'pseudo outbreak' of the contamination of blood cultures with Volvox globator. ANNALS OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PARASITOLOGY 99 (7): 719-720 OCT 2005
 

September

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Article on Chlamydomonas stress genes co-opted for sex in Volvox carteri (by AM Nedelcu) in Proceedings of the Royal Society B 272:1935-1940

August

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New Scientist story on a recent article on Chlamydomonas stress genes co-opted for sex in Volvox carteri (by AM Nedelcu) in Proceedings of the Royal Society B

March

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A nice picture set depicting many volvocalen algae and Volvox carteri mutants! Courtesy of Cristian Solari, John Kessler and Raymond Goldstein (University of Arizona, Tucson)

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A color plate depicting a subset of volvocalean algae. Courtesy of Cristian Solari, John Kessler and Raymond Goldstein (University of Arizona, Tucson)

2004

December

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Land of the Rising Chlamy: A Report of the 11th International Meeting  on the Cell and Molecular Biology of Chlamydomonas held in Kobe, Japan, from May 11-15, 2004. In Protist, Vol. 155: 373-38o, December 2004

November

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Novel method for the cryopreservation of testicular sperm and ejaculated spermatozoa from patients with severe oligospermia: a pilot study 
Just A, Gruber I, Wober M, et al.; FERTILITY AND STERILITY 82 (2): 445-447 AUG 2004
 

October

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Check the link to the University of Toronto Culture Collection of Algae and Cyanobacteria (UTCC) in the VIP Cultures section; the list of UTCC strains now includes UTCC 629 Volvox carteri which is equivalent to CCCM  7096 and former UTEX LB 1875 (not included yet in the web list, but contact Judy Acreman at jacreman@botany.utoronto.ca).

August

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Dr. David L. Kirk's quick guide to Volvox; in CURRENT BIOLOGY, 14, R599-R600 (for pdf click here)

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Click here for an article contrasting the science and the "many sensationalized, out of context, and even nonsensical popular press treatments" of the research on Volvox, stress and sex by Nedelcu et al. 2004 (UNB Science Continuum, Volume 5 Issue 11, August 18, 2004)

July

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Pdf file of a recent paper on sex and oxidative stress in Volvox carteri: Nedelcu AM, Marcu O, and RE Michod. 2004. Sex as a response to oxidative stress: A two-fold increase in cellular reactive oxygen species activates sex genes. Proceedings of Royal Society London B, Biological Sciences 271, 1591-1596.

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A wonderful Perspective on their research on Volvox, by Drs. Marilyn M. Kirk and David L. Kirk in the June 2004 issue of J. Biosci.

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Pdf files of Dr. Desnitskiy's seminal papers on development in Volvox, and the evolution of multicellularity

June

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Our Volvocales plate featured in "Everything you always wanted to know about sexes" by John Whitfield, PLoS Biology, 2(6):718-721.

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Volvox makes the news! 

Click on the links below for press release and media articles about the a recently released work on sex in Volvox: Nedelcu AM, Marcu O, and RE Michod. 2004. Sex as a response to oxidative stress: A two-fold increase in cellular reactive oxygen species activates sex genes. Proceedings of Royal Society London B, Biological Sciences (published on June 9th issue online on FirstCite)

UA press releaseScience, New Scientist, Scientific American, CBC News, Springernews, Newswise, Eurekalert, Betterhumans, Science Daily Innovations-report, Scienceblog, vista verde, Spektrumdirekt, ORF ON Science, Wissenschaft, Scienticker, Polskie Radio, BRIC, Wissen,, Galileo, National Post, Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, The Ottawa Citizen, The Leader-Post, The StarPhoenix, Vancouver Sun, Times Colonist, The Windows Star, CanWestNews Service, Tucson Citizen, Spektrum der Wissenschaft

CBC Radio – Information Morning, Saint John; June 23, 2004; Algae Sex (http://nb.cbc.ca/saintjohn/media/algae23.ram)

bulletVolvox carteri zygotes; courtesy of Aurora Nedelcu  - see also Photo Album

May

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Literature database: titles and abstracts (some PDFs too) for all publications related to Volvox, Pleodorina, Eudorina, Gonium, from 1973 to date; see Publications

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Chlamydomonas Genetics

April

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Links to descriptions and images of Volvocales via the Protist Information Server, and to Culture collections

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Movies (QuickTime) of Volvox carteri; courtesy of Cristian Solari, John Kessler and Ray Goldstein 

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Photographs of Gonium pectorale, Eudorina elegans, Pleodorina californica, and Volvox  carteri; courtesy of Aurora Nedelcu

March

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Abstract of a recently accepted paper (Proc. Roy. Soc. Biological Sciences) on reactive oxygen species and sex in Volvox carteri; courtesy of Aurora Nedelcu

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Media recipes

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Dr. Alexei Desnitskiy joins VIP

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two papers (2000, 2002) and an abstract (2003) on Volvox ecology, geographical distribution, development and reproduction - courtesy of Alexei Desnitskiy

February

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"Red" Volvox - chlorophyll autofluoresence; courtesy of Aurora Nedelcu

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"Bright" Volvox - bright field image; courtesy of Aurora Nedelcu

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"hot" Volvox - heat-stressed sex-induced Volvox; courtesy of Oana Marcu and Aurora Nedelcu

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"Christmas" Volvox - heat-induced apoptosis in Volvox; green DCFDA fluoresecence; courtesy of Oana Marcu and Aurora Nedelcu

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Why Volvocales?

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January

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pdf files of two papers on Volvox carteri (see Publications); courtesy of Aurora Nedelcu and Rick Michod

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Diagram of Volvox carteri sexual cycle (see Life-history); courtesy of Rick Michod

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Picture of an asexual Volvox carteri female with asexual babies (see Photo Album); courtesy of Cristian Solari

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List of publications (year 2003) on Volvox (see Publications)

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For problems or questions regarding this web contact Aurora Nedelcu (anedelcu@unb.ca).
Last updated: May 23, 2011.