寄生原生动物线粒体与适应性进化

Diversity of Parasitic Protozoan Mitochondria and Adaptive Evolution

真核生物的线粒体一般具有一定的典型的结构和功能。然而,在单细胞的寄生原生动物中却不断发现从数量、结构到功能均与典型线粒体明显不同的线粒体,表现出线粒体的巨大可塑性和丰富的多样性。该文对寄生原生动物中这些多样的线粒体进行了概述,并对形成这种多样性的根本原因,即这些生物对寄生生活微氧或无氧环境线粒体所发生的种种适应性进化进行了分析探讨。

Eukaryotic mitochondrion generally possess a definite and canonical structure and function. However, in the unicellular parasitic protozoa, various atypical mitochondria with respect to the number, structure, and function, have been discovered consecutively, revealing the variability, plasticity and rich diversity of mitochondrion. Here, we review the mitochondrial diversity in diverse parasitic protozoa, and the underlying reason for such diversity -- the adaptive evolution of mitochondrion to the micro-oxygen or anaero parasitic environment of these parasites is also analyzed and discussed.