Phylogenomic Analysis of 155 Helminth Species Reveals Widespread Absence of Oxygen Metabolic Capacity.

ABSTRACT: The terminal electron acceptor of most aerobic respiratory chains, cytochrome c oxidase (COX), has been highly conserved throughout evolution, from aerobic prokaryotes to complex eukaryotes. Oxygen metabolism in parasitic helminths differs significantly from that of most aerobic eukaryotes, as these organisms can switch between aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms throughout their life cycles. Early studies suggested a lack of COX activity in certain parasitic helminths, and the role of COX in helminth mitochondria remains unclear. To determine whether a functional COX is widely present in helminths, we analyzed the phylogenetic distribution of oxygen metabolism systems across 155 helminth genomes, investigating three distinct sets of protein-coding genes involved in different aspects of oxyg

SUBMITTER: Collington E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10400150 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature