Hydrogenosome

Hydrogenosome is an organelle found in some eukaryotic microorganisms. The hydrogenosome is a double-membrane-bound organelle that produces molecular hydrogen as a byproduct of energy extraction from sugars. It was first discovered in the anaerobic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis by Miklós Müller in 1973.

Structure and Function

The hydrogenosome is similar in size to mitochondria, but unlike mitochondria, it lacks cristae and mitochondrial DNA. The hydrogenosome's primary function is to generate ATP through the process of fermentation. This process involves the decarboxylation of pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis, to form Acetyl-CoA, which is then converted to acetate, releasing energy in the form of ATP.

Evolution

The hydrogenosome is believed to have evolved from the same endosymbiotic event that gave rise to mitochondria. This theory, known as the endosymbiotic theory, suggests that an ancestral eukaryotic cell engulfed an aerobic prokaryote, which then became an endosymbiont, eventually evolving into the mitochondrion. In the case of the hydrogenosome, it is thought that the organelle evolved from a mitochondrion in an ancestor that adapted to an anaerobic environment.

Distribution

Hydrogenosomes have been found in a variety of anaerobic eukaryotic microorganisms, including Trichomonas vaginalis, Giardia lamblia, and Neocallimastix spp.. These organisms inhabit environments that are low in oxygen, such as the human gut or vagina.

Significance

The study of hydrogenosomes has provided insights into the evolution of eukaryotic cells and their organelles. Furthermore, because hydrogenosomes are found in several pathogenic organisms, they are of interest in the development of new treatments for diseases such as trichomoniasis and giardiasis.

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Hydrogenosome

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  Hydrogenosome diagram