Roombia truncata is a species of katablepharids, which are heterotrophic single-celled organisms.[1]

Roombia
Light (above) and transmission electron micrographs (below) of R. truncata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Phylum: Cryptista
Class: Leucocryptea
Order: Kathablepharidida
Family: Kathablepharidae
Genus: Roombia
Species:
R. truncata
Binomial name
Roombia truncata
Okamoto et al. 2009

It was the first katablepharid to be generally available in cell culture, starting around 2009. The culture consists of Roombia, the diatom Navicula, and unidentified bacteria. Navicula provides the main food source for Roombia, although Roombia also feeds on the bacteria.[1]

The Roombia Truncata was identified through SSU rRNA gene analysis as a typical component of eukaryotes however its complete set of RNA transcripts show mgR2-like CCr (Light sensitive ion channel) unlike other cryptists within this branch of the eukaryotic tree of life.

Roombia was named after the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Okamoto N, Chantangsi C, Horák A, Leander BS, Keeling PJ (2009), Stajich JE (ed.), "Molecular Phylogeny and Description of the Novel Katablepharid Roombia truncata gen. et sp. nov., and Establishment of the Hacrobia Taxon nov.", PLOS ONE, 4 (9): e7080, Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.7080O, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007080, PMC 2741603, PMID 19759916 Takaramoto, S., Fainsod, S., Nagata, T., Rozenberg, A., Béjà, O., & Inoue, K., The roles of an extended N-terminal region and ETD motif in a pump-like cation channelrhodopsin discovered in a lake microbiome., Journal of Molecular Biology {{citation}}: Check |url= value (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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