Diversity and reductive evolution of mitochondria among microbial eukaryotes.
All extant eukaryotes are now considered to possess mitochondria in one form or another. Many parasites or anaerobic protists have highly reduced versions of mitochondria, which have generally lost their genome and the capacity to generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. These organelles have been called hydrogenosomes, when they make hydrogen, or remnant mitochondria or mitosomes when their functions were cryptic. More recently, organelles with features blurring the distinction between mitochondria, hydrogenosomes and mitosomes have been identified. These organelles have retained a mitochondrial genome and include the mitochondrial-like organelle of Blastocystis and the hydrogenosome of the anaerobic ciliate Nyctotherus. Studying eukaryotic diversity from the perspective of their mitochondrial variants has yielded important insights into eukaryote molecular cell biology and evolution. These investigations are contributing to understanding the essential functions of mitochondria, defined in the broadest sense, and the limits to which reductive evolution can proceed while maintaining a viable organelle.
Hjort
Karin
K
Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
Goldberg
Alina V
AV
Tsaousis
Anastasios D
AD
Hirt
Robert P
RP
Embley
T Martin
TM
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015388:Organelles / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport
D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; D006859:Hydrogen; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate