Early steps prerequisite for evolution from aerobic eukaryotes to anaerobes

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14591
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kamikawa Ryoma 京都大学, 地球環境学堂, 助教 (40627634)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ミトコンドリア / 嫌気 / 原生生物 / 酸素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to unveil early stages of adaptive evolution of eukaryotes to anaerobiosis, using a eukaryote that is capable of thriving in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Mitochondria-targeting proteins were identified by transcriptome analyses followed by localization studies. Comparative transcriptome analyses revealed that mitochondrial energy producing pathways are drastically different between aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggested those genes encoding the mitochondrial anaerobic energy production had been acquired by lateral transfers. On the basis of findings in this study, important steps for early stages of evolutionary adaptation to anaerobiosis in eukaryotes were suggested to be acquisition of genes for mitochondrial anaerobic energy production and transcriptional regulation of those genes in different oxygen concentrations.

Free Research Field

真核微生物とそれらがもつオルガネラの進化・多様性