This paper is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the Ferrante & Iudicone labs (Naples, Italy - @luciacampese.bsky.social) and the Vyverman and Vandepoele groups (Ghent, Belgium) @vandepoelelab.bsky.social . Shout-out to @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social for funding this research 🔬

With @floravincent.bsky.social @serenaflori.bsky.social @darjabelisova.bsky.social @cleymanarthur.bsky.social @vandepoelelab.bsky.social @ansgargruber.bsky.social @nic-poulsen.bsky.social @sinkingdiatom.bsky.social and many others

👋 could you add me, please?

And here is a paywall-free link for the New Phytologist version: nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/VSGUV2....

Open access pre-print available here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Finally, we found that the previously described Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata MRM2 gene shows a conserved mating type-specific response in Cylindrotheca and in Seminavis, providing the first molecular evidence for a shared origin of heterothally in pennate diatoms. (4/4)

Several genes were only expressed in a specific mating type below the size threshold, highlighting how differentiation between mating types only happens when cells are small enough. One example is a local gene cluster of three MT+ and small cell specific genes that are pheromone responsive (3/n)

Specifically, we partially removed apices from Cylindrotheca closterium cells to create matched "large" and "small" sized cultures for six independent genotypes, three for each mating type. The expression of a small set of just 112 genes differentiated size classes and mating types (2/n)

As a fellow algae enthusiast, I would love to be added!