Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The mito-early hypothesis posits that mitochondrial integration was a key driver in the evolution of defining eukaryotic characteristics (DECs). Building on previous work that identified endosymbiotic selective pressures as central to eukaryotic cell evolution, this study examines how endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT) and the resulting genomic and bioenergetic constraints shaped mitochondrial protein import systems. These systems were crucial for maintaining cellular function in early eukaryotes and facilitated their subsequent diversification. A primary focus is the co-evolution of mitochondrial import mechanisms and eukaryotic endomembrane complexity. Specifically, I investigate how the necessity for nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein import drove the adaptation of bacterial secretion components, alongside eukaryotic innovations, to refine translocation pathways. Beyond enabling bioenergetic expansion, mitochondrial endosymbiosis played a fundamental role in the emergence of compartmentalisation and cellular complexity in LECA, driving the evolution of organellar networks. By integrating genomic, structural and phylogenetic evidence, this study aimed to contribute to the mito-early framework, clarifying the mechanisms that linked mitochondrial acquisition to the origin of eukaryotic cells.
Source: FEBS Journal
DOI: 10.1111/febs.70109
Author: J. Ernesto Bravo‐Arévalo
Institution: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,000
Awards: G4816177079, G6589332894
OpenAlex ID: W4409771200