Multidirectional evolution of mitochondria

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: "Matryoshka"-type evolution of eukaryotes
• Project/Area Number: 23117005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: Nozaki Tomoyoshi 国立感染症研究所, 寄生動物部, 部長 (60198588)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ISHIKAWA Kaori 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (40734827) ; HASHIMOTO Tetsuo 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 教授 (50208451) ; KURODA Makoto 国立感染症研究所, 病原体ゲノム解析研究センター, センター長 (80317411)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 進化 / 共生 / オルガネラ / ミトコンドリア / 嫌気 / 寄生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed at demonstration and elucidation of multidirectional evolution of mitochondria in eukaryotes, particularly in anaerobic protists. We mainly elucidated physiological functions, protein/metabolite transport mechanisms, quality control mechanisms, genomic and transcriptomic regulation of highly divergent mitochondrion-related organelles such as mitosomes and hydrogenosomes in protists. Our studies demonstrated the unique mechanisms that evolved under anaerobic and free living / parasitic conditions in detail, and gave insights into evolultionary constrains leading to such diversities.

Free Research Field

生化学・細胞生物学・感染症・寄生虫学・原生生物学・代謝・小胞輸送・病原機構・創薬