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Hydrogenosomes of Anaerobic Chytrids: An Alternative Way to Adapt to Anaerobic Environments

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Hydrogenosomes and Mitosomes: Mitochondria of Anaerobic Eukaryotes

Part of the book series: Microbiology Monographs ((MICROMONO,volume 9))

Abstract

Fungi form a very diverse group of eukaryotes. The majority of investigated fungi contain mitochondria and are capable of oxidative phosphorylation. On the other hand, anaerobically functioning chytridiomycete fungi, found as symbionts in the gastrointestinal tract of many herbivorous mammals, contain hydrogenosomes. These organelles are found in multiple classes of protozoa and catabolize glycolytic end products and produce hydrogen and ATP by substrate-level phosphorylation. However, in contrast to the hydrogenosomes of trichomonads and anaerobic ciliates, the hydrogenosomes of the anaerobic chytrids Neocallimastix and Piromyces lack pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and pyruvate-ferrodoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) and instead contain pyruvate-formate lyase (PFL). The function in carbohydrate metabolism of these hydrogenosomes of anaerobic chytridiomycete fungi and their evolutionary relation to fungal mitochondria is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Evolutionary Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Johannes H. P. Hackstein

  2. Chemical & Biological Processes Development Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA

    Scott E. Baker

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Jaap J. van Hellemond & Aloysius G. M. Tielens

  4. Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Jaap J. van Hellemond & Aloysius G. M. Tielens

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  1. Johannes H. P. Hackstein
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  2. Scott E. Baker
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  3. Jaap J. van Hellemond
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  4. Aloysius G. M. Tielens
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Correspondence to Johannes H. P. Hackstein .

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Jan Tachezy

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Hackstein, J.H.P., Baker, S.E., van Hellemond, J.J., Tielens, A.G.M. (2008). Hydrogenosomes of Anaerobic Chytrids: An Alternative Way to Adapt to Anaerobic Environments. In: Tachezy, J. (eds) Hydrogenosomes and Mitosomes: Mitochondria of Anaerobic Eukaryotes. Microbiology Monographs, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7171_2007_111

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