Hydrogenosomes: convergent adaptations of mitochondria to anaerobic environments
Presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft in Osnabrück, June 4–8, 2001

Authors: Hackstein J.H.P.¹; Akhmanova A.¹; Voncken F.¹; van Hoek A.¹; van Alen T.¹; Boxma B.¹; Moon-van der Staay S.Y.¹; van der Staay G.¹; Leunissen J.²; Huynen M.²; Rosenberg J.³; Veenhuis M.⁴

Source: Zoology, Volume 104, Numbers 3-4, February 2002 , pp. 290-302(13)

Publisher: Urban & Fischer

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Abstract:

Hydrogenosomes are membrane-bound organelles that compartmentalise the final steps of energy metabolism in a number of anaerobic eukaryotes. They produce hydrogen and ATP. Here we will review the data, which are relevant for the questions: how did the hydrogenosomes originate, and what was their ancestor? Notably, there is strong evidence that hydrogenosomes evolved several times as adaptations to anaerobic environments. Most likely, hydrogenosomes and mitochondria share a common ancestor, but an unequivocal proof for this hypothesis is difficult because hydrogenosomes lack an organelle genome – with one remarkable exception (Nyctotherus ovalis). In particular, the diversity of extant hydrogenosomes hampers a straightforward analysis of their origins. Nevertheless, it is conceivable to postulate that the common ancestor of mitochondria and hydrogenosomes was a facultative anaerobic organelle that participated in the early radiation of unicellular eukaryotes. Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that both, hydrogenosomes and mitochondria are evolutionary adaptations to anaerobic or aerobic environments, respectively.

Keywords: hydrogenosomes; mitochondria; evolution; eukaryotes; anaerobes

Language: English

Document Type: Miscellaneous

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/0944-2006-00035

Affiliations: 1: Dept. Evolutionary Microbiology, Fac. Science, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands 2: Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Fac. Science, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands 3: Dept. Animal Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany 4: Dept. Eukaryotic Microbiology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands

Publication date: 2002-02-01