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Programmed Cell Death in Protists without Mitochondria: The Missing Link

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Programmed Cell Death in Protozoa

Part of the book series: Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit ((MBIU))

Abstract

Programmed cell death (PCD), a fundamental process that can be triggered in all cells, was supposed until recently solely centred on the mitochondrion. However, in amitochondriate organisms where only hydrogenosomes and mitosomes subsist as mitochondria relics, recent findings show that PCD still occurs. This exciting discovery is presented here in the light of the development of sequencing project in various different species as well as recent findings about mitochondrial derivates and ancestral viruses, contributing to a better understanding of the life tree as well as to the future discovery of new molecules of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Génie Biologique, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, France

    Claude-Olivier Sarde

  2. Laboratoire Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire, UMR CNRS 6022, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, B.P. 20529, 60205, Compiègne cedex, France

    Alberto Roseto

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Sarde, CO., Roseto, A. (2008). Programmed Cell Death in Protists without Mitochondria: The Missing Link. In: Programmed Cell Death in Protozoa. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76717-8_2

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