Anaerobic endosymbiont generates energy for ciliate host by denitrification.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondria are specialized eukaryotic organelles that have a dedicated function in oxygen respiration and energy production. They evolved about 2 billion years ago from a free-living bacterial ancestor (probably an alphaproteobacterium), in a process known as endosymbiosis^1,2. Many unicellular eukaryotes have since adapted to life in anoxic habitats and their mitochondria have undergone further reductive evolution³. As a result, obligate anaerobic eukaryotes with mitochondrial remnants derive their energy mostly from fermentation⁴. Here we describe 'Candidatus Azoamicus ciliaticola', which is an obligate endosymbiont of an anaerobic ciliate and has a dedicated role in respiration and providing energy for its eukaryotic host. 'Candidatus A. ciliaticola' co

SUBMITTER: Graf JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7969357 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature