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Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...
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A eukaryotic cell can have up to three different types of genetic systems: nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast. During evolution, organelles have exported many genes to the nucleus; this transfer is still ongoing in some plant species. Approximately 18% of the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome is thought to be derived from the chloroplast’s cyanobacterial ancestor, and around 75% of the yeast genome derived from the mitochondria’s bacterial ancestor. This export has occurred...
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The present-day mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have retained some of the characteristics of their ancestral prokaryotes and also have acquired new attributes during their evolution within eukaryotic cells. Like prokaryotic genomes, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes neither bind with histone-like proteins nor show complex packaging into chromosome-like structures, as observed in eukaryotes. Unlike mitotic cell divisions observed in eukaryotic cells, mitochondria and chloroplasts...
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The inner mitochondrial membrane is the primary site of ATP synthesis. The inner membrane domain that forms a smooth layer adjacent to the outer membrane is called the inner boundary membrane. This domain contains membrane transporters that drive metabolites in and out of the mitochondria.  In contrast, the inner membrane network that invaginates into the matrix space is called the cristae membrane. This domain accounts for principle mitochondrial function as it accommodates the protein...
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Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
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A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
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Deep mitochondrial origin outside the sampled alphaproteobacteria.

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Mitochondria, crucial for cellular energy, did not evolve from Rickettsiales as previously thought. New genomic data reveal their ancestor predates all known Alphaproteobacteria, requiring a re-evaluation of early eukaryotic evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Mitochondria are vital ATP-generating organelles originating from endosymbiosis.
  • Phylogenetic studies suggest an alphaproteobacterial origin for mitochondria.
  • Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding the specific alphaproteobacterial ancestor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the phylogenetic placement of mitochondria.
  • To identify the closest relatives of mitochondria within the Alphaproteobacteria.
  • To clarify the evolutionary origin and nature of the mitochondrial ancestor.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-resolved binning of oceanic metagenome datasets.
  • Increased genomic sampling of Alphaproteobacteria with twelve divergent clades.
  • Phylogenomic analyses addressing long branch attraction and compositional bias.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondria do not originate from Rickettsiales or any recognized alphaproteobacterial lineage.
  • Phylogenomic analyses indicate an ancestor branching off before all sampled Alphaproteobacteria.
  • The study provides new genomic data for twelve divergent alphaproteobacterial clades.

Conclusions:

  • The evolutionary origin of mitochondria is distinct from previously identified alphaproteobacterial groups.
  • Previous hypotheses regarding the mitochondrial ancestor require re-evaluation based on new findings.
  • This research refines our understanding of early eukaryotic cell evolution and organelle origins.