Genome analysis of the pico-eukaryotic marine green alga Prasinoderma coloniale CCMP 1413 unveils the existence of a novel phylum within green plants (Viridiplantae), the Prasinodermophyta, which diverged before the split of Chlorophyta and Streptophyta. Structural features of the genome and gene family comparisons revealed an intermediate position of the P. coloniale genome (25.3 Mb) between the extremely compact, small genomes of picoplanktonic Mamiellophyceae (Chlorophyta) and the larger, more complex genomes of early-diverging streptophyte algae. Reconstruction of the minimal core genome of Viridiplantae allowed identification of an ancestral toolkit of transcription factors and flagellar proteins. Adaptations of P. coloniale to its deep-water, oligotrophic environment involved expansion of light-harvesting proteins, reduction of early light-induced proteins, evolution of a distinct type of C₄ photosynthesis and carbon-concentrating mechanism, synthesis of the metal-complexing metabolite picolinic acid, and vitamin B₁, B₇ and B₁₂ auxotrophy. The P. coloniale genome provides first insights into the dawn of green plant evolution.

微型真核海洋绿藻Prasinoderma Colonile CCMP 1413 的基因组分析揭示了绿色植物 (Viridiplantae) 中存在一个新的门，即 Prasinodermophyta，它在绿藻门和链藻门分裂之前就已经分化。基因组和基因家族比较的结构特征揭示了 P.colonye 基因组 (25.3 Mb) 的中间位置，介于极紧凑、小型的微型浮游 Mamiellophyceae (Chlorophyta) 基因组和更大、更复杂的早期分化链藻基因组之间。Viridiplantae 最小核心基因组的重建允许识别转录因子和鞭毛蛋白的祖先工具包。P. Coloniale的适应其深水，贫营养环境涉及光捕获蛋白质的扩展，早期光诱导蛋白质的减少，独特类型的C ₄光合作用和碳浓缩机制的进化，金属络合代谢物吡啶甲酸的合成，以及维生素 B ₁、B ₇和 B ₁₂营养缺陷型。P.colonye基因组为绿色植物进化的曙光提供了初步见解。