De Novo Evolution of Photosymbiosis – PHOCEE

Most life forms depend on photosynthesis. Photosynthesis evolved in bacteria, its spreading and ecological dominance on earth and in the ocean were favorised by eukaryotic acquisition through one primary and many independent secondary photosymbiosis events. However, the molecular basis for photosymbiosis establishment are still unknown. The key originality of the PHOCEE project is to develop a new system to genetically track cellular events underlying the first steps of symbiont acquisition. This new system will also allow to test several current hypothesis about the selective pressures favorising photosymbiosis, mimicking natural environments at the laboratory scale. Thanks to the progress of comparative genomics of different groups of photosymbiotic eucaryotes, this project will provide a molecular framework to better understand a process of key importance for life on the planet.