RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Improved Reference Genome for Cyclotella cryptica CCMP332, a Model for Cell Wall Morphogenesis, Salinity Adaptation, and Lipid Production in Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) JF G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics FD Genetics Society of America SP 2965 OP 2974 DO 10.1534/g3.120.401408 VO 10 IS 9 A1 Roberts, Wade R. A1 Downey, Kala M. A1 Ruck, Elizabeth C. A1 Traller, Jesse C. A1 Alverson, Andrew J. YR 2020 UL http://www.g3journal.org/content/10/9/2965.abstract AB The diatom, Cyclotella cryptica, is a well-established model species for physiological studies and biotechnology applications of diatoms. To further facilitate its use as a model diatom, we report an improved reference genome assembly and annotation for C. cryptica strain CCMP332. We used a combination of long- and short-read sequencing to assemble a high-quality and contaminant-free genome. The genome is 171 Mb in size and consists of 662 scaffolds with a scaffold N50 of 494 kb. This represents a 176-fold decrease in scaffold number and 41-fold increase in scaffold N50 compared to the previous assembly. The genome contains 21,250 predicted genes, 75% of which were assigned putative functions. Repetitive DNA comprises 59% of the genome, and an improved classification of repetitive elements indicated that a historically steady accumulation of transposable elements has contributed to the relatively large size of the C. cryptica genome. The high-quality C. cryptica genome will serve as a valuable reference for ecological, genetic, and biotechnology studies of diatoms.