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Related Experiment Videos

Evolution and the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid.

I B Chatterjee

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |December 21, 1973
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Many animals, including insects and fish, cannot produce ascorbic acid (vitamin C). This vital synthesis ability evolved in kidneys, then livers, before being lost in some mammals and humans.

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    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Comparative Physiology

    Background:

    • Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential nutrient for many organisms.
    • The capacity for endogenous ascorbic acid synthesis varies significantly across the animal kingdom.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To trace the evolutionary trajectory of ascorbic acid biosynthesis across diverse vertebrate lineages.
    • To identify the specific organs responsible for vitamin C synthesis in different animal groups.

    Main Methods:

    • Comparative analysis of metabolic pathways across species.
    • Review of existing literature on vitamin C synthesis in invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

    Main Results:

    • Insects, invertebrates, and fish lack the ability to synthesize ascorbic acid.

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  • Biosynthesis initiated in amphibian kidneys, persisted in reptilian kidneys, and transferred to mammalian livers.
  • This biosynthetic capacity was subsequently lost in specific mammalian groups (guinea pigs, flying mammals, monkeys, humans) and showed parallel transitions in birds.

    • Conclusions:

    • The evolution of ascorbic acid synthesis demonstrates a dynamic pattern of organ-specific gene retention and loss.
    • Understanding these evolutionary shifts provides insights into metabolic adaptations and nutritional requirements across species.