TY - JOUR
T1 - Intermediary Metabolism in Protists
T2 - A Sequence-based View of Facultative Anaerobic Metabolism in Evolutionarily Diverse Eukaryotes
AU - Ginger, Michael L.
AU - Fritz-Laylin, Lillian K.
AU - Fulton, Chandler
AU - Cande, W. Zacheus
AU - Dawson, Scott C.
PY - 2010/12/1
Y1 - 2010/12/1
N2 - Protists account for the bulk of eukaryotic diversity. Through studies of gene and especially genome sequences the molecular basis for this diversity can be determined. Evident from genome sequencing are examples of versatile metabolism that go far beyond the canonical pathways described for eukaryotes in textbooks. In the last 2-3 years, genome sequencing and transcript profiling has unveiled several examples of heterotrophic and phototrophic protists that are unexpectedly well-equipped for ATP production using a facultative anaerobic metabolism, including some protists that can (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) or are predicted (Naegleria gruberi, Acanthamoeba castellanii, Amoebidium parasiticum) to produce H2 in their metabolism. It is possible that some enzymes of anaerobic metabolism were acquired and distributed among eukaryotes by lateral transfer, but it is also likely that the common ancestor of eukaryotes already had far more metabolic versatility than was widely thought a few years ago. The discussion of core energy metabolism in unicellular eukaryotes is the subject of this review. Since genomic sequencing has so far only touched the surface of protist diversity, it is anticipated that sequences of additional protists may reveal an even wider range of metabolic capabilities, while simultaneously enriching our understanding of the early evolution of eukaryotes.
AB - Protists account for the bulk of eukaryotic diversity. Through studies of gene and especially genome sequences the molecular basis for this diversity can be determined. Evident from genome sequencing are examples of versatile metabolism that go far beyond the canonical pathways described for eukaryotes in textbooks. In the last 2-3 years, genome sequencing and transcript profiling has unveiled several examples of heterotrophic and phototrophic protists that are unexpectedly well-equipped for ATP production using a facultative anaerobic metabolism, including some protists that can (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) or are predicted (Naegleria gruberi, Acanthamoeba castellanii, Amoebidium parasiticum) to produce H2 in their metabolism. It is possible that some enzymes of anaerobic metabolism were acquired and distributed among eukaryotes by lateral transfer, but it is also likely that the common ancestor of eukaryotes already had far more metabolic versatility than was widely thought a few years ago. The discussion of core energy metabolism in unicellular eukaryotes is the subject of this review. Since genomic sequencing has so far only touched the surface of protist diversity, it is anticipated that sequences of additional protists may reveal an even wider range of metabolic capabilities, while simultaneously enriching our understanding of the early evolution of eukaryotes.
KW - Amoebae
KW - Anaerobic metabolism
KW - Ecology
KW - Eukaryotic evolution
KW - Lateral gene transfer
KW - Mitochondria
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649635768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.protis.2010.09.001
DO - 10.1016/j.protis.2010.09.001
M3 - Review article
C2 - 21036663
AN - SCOPUS:78649635768
VL - 161
SP - 642
EP - 671
JO - Protist
JF - Protist
SN - 1434-4610
IS - 5
ER -