Journal of Molecular Evolution
October 2017, Volume 85, Issue 3–4, pp 99–106 | Cite as
Some Liked It Hot: A Hypothesis Regarding Establishment of the Proto-Mitochondrial Endosymbiont During Eukaryogenesis
Authors
Cory D. Dunn 1, 2
1. Email author View author's OrcID profile
October 2017, Volume 85, Issue 3–4, pp 99–106 | Cite as
Some Liked It Hot: A Hypothesis Regarding Establishment of the Proto-Mitochondrial Endosymbiont During Eukaryogenesis
Authors
Cory D. Dunn 1, 2
1. Email author View author's OrcID profile
1.Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science University of Helsinki Finland
2.College of Sciences Koç University Sarıyer Turkey
Open Access Original Article
First Online: 15 September 2017
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells are characterized by a considerable increase in subcellular compartmentalization when compared to prokaryotes. Most evidence suggests that the earliest eukaryotes consisted of mitochondria derived from an α-proteobacterial ancestor enclosed within an archaeal host cell. However, what benefits the archaeal host and the proto-mitochondrial endosymbiont might have obtained at the beginning of this endosymbiotic relationship remains unclear. In this work, I argue that heat generated by the proto-mitochondrion initially permitted an archaeon living at high temperatures to colonize a cooler environment, thereby removing apparent limitations on cellular complexity. Furthermore, heat generation by the endosymbiont would have provided phenotypic flexibility not available through fixed alleles selected for fitness at specific temperatures. Finally, a role for heat production by the proto-mitochondrion bridges a conceptual gap between initial endosymbiont entry to the archaeal host and a later role for mitochondrial ATP production in permitting increased cellular complexity.
Keywords Endosymbiosis Eukaryogenesis Mitochondria Archaea Temperature Bioenergetics
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