Unraveling microalgal molecular interactions using evolutionary and structural bioinformatics

• We analyzed 7 microalgae organisms, carefully selected to belong to diverse groups.
• We identified one fission and four fusion events that are considered genuine.
• Protein interactions and functional links were identified in the 7 microalgae.
• We investigated their evolutionary links via protein phylogenetic profiling.
• The 3D structures of the identified proteins were modeled to study their function.

Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms indispensible for environmental stability and life on earth, because they produce approximately half of the atmospheric oxygen, with simultaneously feeding on the harmful greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Using gene fusion analysis, a series of five fusion/fission events was identified, that provided the basis for critical insights to their evolutionary history. Moreover, the three-dimensional structures of both the fused and the component proteins were predicted, allowing us to envisage putative protein–protein interactions that are invaluable for the efficient usage, handling and exploitation of microalgae. Collectively, our proposed approach on the five fusion/fission alga protein events contributes towards the expansion of the microalgae knowledgebase, bridging protein evolution of the ancient microalgal species and the rapidly evolving, modern, bioinformatics field.