Phylogenetic analyses suggest lateral gene transfer from the mitochondrion to the apicoplast

0157583 - PAU-O 20023058 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Oborník, Miroslav - Van de Peer, Y. - Hypša, Václav - Frickey, T. - Šlapeta, Jan Roger - Meyer, A. - Lukeš, Julius
Phylogenetic analyses suggest lateral gene transfer from the mitochondrion to the apicoplast.
Gene. Roč. 285, 1-2 (2002), s. 109-118. ISSN 0378-1119. E-ISSN 1879-0038
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR IAB5022904; GA AV ČR IAA6022903
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z6022909
Keywords : apicoplast * mitochondrion * hybrid genome
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 2.778, year: 2002

Apicomplexan protozoa contain a single mitochondrion and a multimembranous plastid-like organelle termed apicoplast. The size of the apicomplexan plastid genome is extremely small (35 kb) thus offering a limited number of genes for phylogenetic analysis. Although it is evident that the apicoplast and its genome is plastid-derived, our detailed phylogenetic analysis of amino acid and nucleotide sequences of selected apicoplast ribosomal protein genes rpl2, rpl14 and rps12 show their possible mitochondrial origin. Based on our results we propose that apicoplasts might contain both plastid and mitochondrial genes, thus constituting a hybrid assembly.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0055021