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Related Concept Videos

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Microvilli are tiny finger-like projections found on the surface of certain cells. Their purpose is to increase the surface area of the cell's apical surface, resulting in more effective absorption or secretion of substances.
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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2025

3D Culturing of Organoids from the Intestinal Villi Epithelium Undergoing Dedifferentiation
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Origin and evolution of microvilli.

Mylan Ansel1,2,3, Kaustubh Ramachandran2, Gautam Dey2

  • 1Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, CNRS UMR3691, Evolutionary Cell Biology and Evolution of Morphogenesis Unit, Paris, France.

Biology of the Cell
|September 5, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microvilli evolved from simpler, filopodia-like structures in unicellular ancestors. Their molecular toolkit assembled stepwise, with key innovations appearing in early animal and choanozoan ancestors.

Keywords:
Choanoflagellatabiological evolutioncytoskeletonfilopodiamicrovillimolecular evolution

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Microvilli are essential F-actin-filled cellular protrusions found across animal life.
  • They perform vital functions like nutrient absorption and mechanosensation.
  • Understanding microvilli evolution is crucial for animal cellular evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on microvilli evolution.
  • To bioinformatically survey genes encoding microvillar proteins in animals and unicellular relatives.
  • To reconstruct the evolutionary timeline of microvillar protein assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed description of mammalian microvilli (enterocyte brush border, hair cell stereocilia).
  • Comparative analysis of microvilli and filopodia diversity.
  • Bioinformatic survey of microvillar protein gene conservation.
  • Molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Main Results:

  • Reconstitution of the evolutionary order of microvillar proteins.
  • Stepwise assembly of the microvillar molecular toolkit identified.
  • Key innovation bursts noted at the last common filozoan and choanozoan ancestors.
  • Distinction from filopodia and emergence of inter-microvillar adhesions highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Microvilli likely evolved from filopodia-like ancestral structures.
  • The evolution involved a stepwise assembly of specific protein components.
  • Significant evolutionary innovations occurred in early animal and choanozoan lineages.