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The evolution of eukaryotic cells from the perspective of peroxisomes
Author(s) -
Bolte Kathrin,
Rensing Stefan A.,
Maier UweG.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201400151
Subject(s) - peroxisome , archaea , biology , phylogenetic tree , bacteria , enzyme , phylogenetics , mitochondrion , biochemistry , eukaryotic cell , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics
Beta‐oxidation of fatty acids and detoxification of reactive oxygen species are generally accepted as being fundamental functions of peroxisomes. Additionally, these pathways might have been the driving force favoring the selection of this compartment during eukaryotic evolution. Here we performed phylogenetic analyses of enzymes involved in beta‐oxidation of fatty acids in Bacteria, Eukaryota, and Archaea. These imply an alpha‐proteobacterial origin for three out of four enzymes. By integrating the enzymes' history into the contrasting models on the origin of eukaryotic cells, we conclude that peroxisomes most likely evolved non‐symbiotically and subsequent to the acquisition of mitochondria in an archaeal host cell.