title: On the origin of eukaryotic cytoskeleton.
abstract: The origin of eukaryote-specific cytoskeletal proteins is an issue which is closely related to the origin of the domain Eukarya. As nearly all of these proteins are not found in prokaryotes, the prokaryotic origin of eukaryotic cytoskeletal network suggested by most models is questionable. Eukaryotic cytoskeletal proteins might descend from subpopulations of pre-cells co-existing with Bacteria and Archaea prior to the origin of eukaryotes. The pre-karyote (the host for a-proteobacterial ancestors of mitochondria) might have already possessed eukaryotic-like cytoskeleton. A possible role for viruses in the origin of eukaryotic cytoskeletal proteins is discussed. Viruses parasitizing on pre-cells and/or on the pre-karyote might have themselves used several eukaryotic-like cytoskeletal proteins for segregation and packing of their genomes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynska dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia. vesteg@fns.uniba.sk
authors.forename: Matej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vesteg
authors.forename: Juraj
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krajcovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure* / Q000821:virology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D013559:Symbiosis; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C071525:FtsZ protein, Bacteria; C119586:FtsZ protein, Methanococcus jannaschii; D014404:Tubulin; C078473:MreB protein, E coli