Perfection of eccentricity: Mitochondrial genomes of diplonemids

Mitochondria are the sandbox of evolution as exemplified most particularly by the diplonemids, a group of marine microeukaryotes. These protists are uniquely characterized by their highly multipartite mitochondrial genome and systematically fragmented genes whose pieces are spread out over several dozens of chromosomes. The type species Diplonema papillatum was the first member of this group in which the expression of fragmented mitochondrial genes was investigated experimentally. We now know that gene expression involves separate transcription of gene pieces (modules), RNA editing of module transcripts, and module joining to mature mRNAs and rRNAs. The mechanism of cognate module recognition and ligation is distinct from known intron splicing and remains to be uncovered. Here, we review the current status of research on mitochondrial genome architecture, as well as gene complement, structure, and expression modes in diplonemids. Further, we discuss the potential molecular mechanisms of posttranscriptional processing, and finally reflect on the evolutionary trajectories and trends of mtDNA evolution as seen in this protist group. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(12):1197-1206, 2018.