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Related Concept Videos

Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
The Endoplasmic Reticulum01:43

The Endoplasmic Reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum or ER makes up for more than half of the membranes in a cell and accounts for 10% of total cell volume. It is also the primary protein and lipid synthesis factory for most cell organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, secretory vesicles, and the plasma membrane. Despite being the most extensive and functionally complex subcellular organelle, ER was the last to be discovered. After years of deliberation, Keith Porter and George Palade in the year 1954,...
The Endoplasmic Reticulum01:43

The Endoplasmic Reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum or ER makes up for more than half of the membranes in a cell and accounts for 10% of total cell volume. It is also the primary protein and lipid synthesis factory for most cell organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, secretory vesicles, and the plasma membrane. Despite being the most extensive and functionally complex subcellular organelle, ER was the last to be discovered. After years of deliberation, Keith Porter and George Palade in the year 1954,...
Eukaryotic Compartmentalization01:37

Eukaryotic Compartmentalization

One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry out specialized functions. Since biological membranes are only selectively permeable to solutes, they help create a compartment with controlled conditions inside an organelle. These microenvironments are tailored to the organelle's specific functions and help isolate them from the surrounding cytosol.
For example, lysosomes in the animal cells...
Eukaryotic Compartmentalizations01:46

Eukaryotic Compartmentalizations

One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry out specialized functions. Since biological membranes are only selectively permeable to solutes, they help create a compartment with controlled conditions inside an organelle. These microenvironments are tailored to the organelle's specific functions and help isolate them from the surrounding cytosol.
For example, lysosomes in the animal cells...
Eukaryotic Compartmentalization01:46

Eukaryotic Compartmentalization

One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry out specialized functions. Since biological membranes are only selectively permeable to solutes, they help create a compartment with controlled conditions inside an organelle. These microenvironments are tailored to the organelle's specific functions and help isolate them from the surrounding cytosol.
For example, lysosomes in the animal cells...

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Nanogold Labeling of the Yeast Endosomal System for Ultrastructural Analyses
09:49

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Published on: July 14, 2014

Evolution of specificity in the eukaryotic endomembrane system.

Joel B Dacks1, Andrew A Peden, Mark C Field

  • 1The Molteno Building, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK. joel.dacks@ualberta.ca

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|October 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Cellular compartments evolved through gene duplication and co-evolution of proteins. This mechanism explains the complexity of membrane-trafficking organelles and their evolutionary history.

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Published on: February 18, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Eukaryotic cells possess diverse internal compartments with distinct functions and histories.
  • Understanding the evolution and identity encoding of the membrane-trafficking system is a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolutionary history of key membrane-trafficking components.
  • To propose a model for the evolution of organellar complexity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on SNAREs, Rabs, vesicle coats, and tethers.
  • Analysis of evolutionary histories of protein families involved in membrane trafficking.

Main Results:

  • Identified key protein families (SNAREs, Rabs, etc.) involved in membrane trafficking.
  • Proposed a model of organelle evolution via gene duplication and co-evolution.
  • Suggested this model may apply to other non-endosymbiotic organelles.

Conclusions:

  • A common evolutionary mechanism involving gene duplication and co-evolving proteins likely shaped membrane-trafficking organelles.
  • Evolutionary principles are powerful tools for understanding cellular compartments and have broad applications in research.