Evidence for a Syncytial Origin of Eukaryotes from Ancestral State Reconstruction.

Genome Biology and Evolution
Josip SkejoWilliam F. Martin

Abstract

Modern accounts of eukaryogenesis entail an endosymbiotic encounter between an archaeal host and a proteobacterial endosymbiont, with subsequent evolution giving rise to a unicell possessing a single nucleus and mitochondria. The mononucleate state of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) is seldom, if ever, questioned, even though cells harboring multiple (syncytia, coenocytes, and polykaryons) are surprisingly common across eukaryotic supergroups. Here, we present a survey of multinucleated forms. Ancestral character state reconstruction for representatives of 106 eukaryotic taxa using 16 different possible roots and supergroup sister relationships, indicate that LECA, in addition to being mitochondriate, sexual, and meiotic, was multinucleate. LECA exhibited closed mitosis, which is the rule for modern syncytial forms, shedding light on the mechanics of its chromosome segregation. A simple mathematical model shows that within LECA's multinucleate cytosol, relationships among mitochondria and nuclei were neither one-to-one, nor one-to-many, but many-to-many, placing mitonuclear interactions and cytonuclear compatibility at the evolutionary base of eukaryotic cell origin. Within a syncytium, individual nuclei and individu...Continue Reading

References

Oct 21, 1987·Journal of Theoretical Biology·E Szathmáry, L Demeter
Jan 1, 1987·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·T Cavalier-Smith
Dec 19, 1969·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·C De Duve
Apr 12, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J A Lake, M C Rivera
Mar 24, 1998·Nature·W Martin, M Müller
Mar 10, 1999·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·N W Blackstone, D R Green
Apr 27, 1999·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·P López-Garćia, D Moreira
Jun 22, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·L MargulisR Guerrero
Mar 1, 1967·Journal of Theoretical Biology·L Sagan
Apr 5, 2002·International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology·T Cavalier-Smith
Jul 6, 2002·Science·Alexandra Stechmann, Thomas Cavalier-Smith
Mar 31, 2006·Nature·T Martin Embley, William Martin
Jun 7, 2006·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·A H KnollP Cohen
Jan 16, 2007·Environmental Microbiology·Purificación López-GarcíaDavid Moreira
Dec 11, 1936·Science·R F Daubenmire
Mar 5, 2008·Annual Review of Plant Biology·Sven B GouldGeoffrey I McFadden
Nov 7, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ann-Christin LindåsRolf Bernander
Jun 8, 2010·Nature Cell Biology·John F DishingerKristen J Verhey
Oct 1, 2004·American Journal of Botany·Patrick J Keeling
Feb 1, 2003·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Sally P Leys
Jul 20, 2011·Journal of Cell Science·Jacob M SchrøderLotte B Pedersen
Sep 3, 2011·PLoS Biology·Camilo MoraBoris Worm
May 5, 2012·EMBO Reports·Graziano PesoleCecilia Saccone
Jun 13, 2012·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·Miklós MüllerWilliam F Martin
Dec 25, 2012·Cell·Nick Lane, William F Martin
Jan 30, 2013·Biochemical Society Transactions·Joran Martijn, Thijs J G Ettema
Feb 13, 2013·The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology·Naoji Yubuki, Brian S Leander
May 7, 2013·Nucleus·Barbara Boettcher, Yves Barral
Aug 30, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Matthew W BrownAndrew J Roger
Feb 11, 2014·Current Biology : CB·Ding HeSandra L Baldauf
May 7, 2015·Nature·Anja SpangThijs J G Ettema
Jul 22, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dave SpeijerMarek Eliáš
Sep 2, 2015·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·William F MartinVerena Zimorski
Oct 13, 2015·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Purificación López-García, David Moreira

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Eugene V Koonin
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
Julian VossebergBerend Snel
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Austin Booth, W Ford Doolittle
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Maureen A O'MalleyIñaki Ruiz-Trillo
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved