An Overview of Endosymbiotic Models for the Origins of Eukaryotes, Their ATP-Producing Organelles (Mitochondria and Hydrogenosomes), and Their Heterotrophic Lifestyle
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William Martin
Abstract
The evolutionary processes underlying the differentness of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the origin of the latters organelles are still poorly understood. For about 100 years, the principle of endosymbiosis has figured into thoughts as to how these processes might have occurred. A number of models that have been discussed in the literature and that are designed to explain this difference are summarized. The evolutionary histories of the enzymes of anaerobic energy metabolism (oxygenindependent ATP synthesis) in the three basic types of heterotrophic eukaryotes those that lack organelles of ATP synthesis, those that possess mitochondria and those that possess hydrogenosomes play an important role in this issue. Traditional endosymbiotic models generally do not address the origin of the heterotrophic lifestyle and anaerobic energy metabolism in eukaryotes. Rather they take it as a given, a direct inheritance from the host that acquired mitochondria. Traditional models are contrasted to an alternative endosymbiotic model (the hydrogen hypothesis), which addresses the origin of heterotrophy and the origin of compartmentalized energy metabolism in eukaryotes.
Copyright © 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- An Overview of Endosymbiotic Models for the Origins of Eukaryotes, Their ATP-Producing Organelles (Mitochondria and Hydrogenosomes), and Their Heterotrophic Lifestyle
- A Microsomal Ecdysone-Binding Cytochrome P450 from the Insect Locusta migratoria Purified by Sequential Use of Type-II and Type-I Ligands
- The Large Cytoplasmic Loop of the Glucose Transporter GLUT1 Is an Essential Structural Element for Function
- Visual Representation by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Ribonucleoproteins
- Elimination of Hydrocortisone from the Medium Enables Tissue Plasminogen Activator Gene Expression by Normal and Immortalized Nonmalignant Human Epithelial Cells
- Molecular Cloning and Biochemical Characterisation of Proteases from Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Splice Variants of Human Cathepsin L mRNA Show Different Expression Rates
- Osmolytes as Modulators of Conformational Changes in Serpins
- Protective Activity of Aromatic Amines and Imines against Oxidative Nerve Cell Death
- Nitric Oxide Generation in Aqueous Solutions of Cigarette Smoke and Approaches to Its Origin
- A Recombinant scFv/Streptavidin-Binding Peptide Fusion Protein for the Quantitative Determination of the Scorpion Venom Neurotoxin AahI
Articles in the same Issue
- An Overview of Endosymbiotic Models for the Origins of Eukaryotes, Their ATP-Producing Organelles (Mitochondria and Hydrogenosomes), and Their Heterotrophic Lifestyle
- A Microsomal Ecdysone-Binding Cytochrome P450 from the Insect Locusta migratoria Purified by Sequential Use of Type-II and Type-I Ligands
- The Large Cytoplasmic Loop of the Glucose Transporter GLUT1 Is an Essential Structural Element for Function
- Visual Representation by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Ribonucleoproteins
- Elimination of Hydrocortisone from the Medium Enables Tissue Plasminogen Activator Gene Expression by Normal and Immortalized Nonmalignant Human Epithelial Cells
- Molecular Cloning and Biochemical Characterisation of Proteases from Staphylococcus epidermidis
- Splice Variants of Human Cathepsin L mRNA Show Different Expression Rates
- Osmolytes as Modulators of Conformational Changes in Serpins
- Protective Activity of Aromatic Amines and Imines against Oxidative Nerve Cell Death
- Nitric Oxide Generation in Aqueous Solutions of Cigarette Smoke and Approaches to Its Origin
- A Recombinant scFv/Streptavidin-Binding Peptide Fusion Protein for the Quantitative Determination of the Scorpion Venom Neurotoxin AahI
