NADPH oxidase: an enzyme for multicellularity?
Multicellularity has evolved several times during the evolution of eukaryotes. One evolutionary pressure that permits multicellularity relates to the division of work, where one group of cells functions as nutrient providers and the other in specialized roles such as defence or reproduction. This requires signalling systems to ensure harmonious development of multicellular structures. Here, we show that NADPH oxidases are specifically present in organisms that differentiate multicellular structures during their life cycle and are absent from unicellular life forms. The biochemical properties of these enzymes make them ideal candidates for a role in intercellular signalling.
Lalucque
Hervé
H
Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, UMR 8621, Bât. 400, Université de Paris XI, 91405 Orsay cedex, France.
Silar
Philippe
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction
D019255:NADPH Oxidases