Membranes, energetics, and evolution across the prokaryote-eukaryote divide
Abstract
The evolution of the eukaryotic cell marked a profound moment in Earth’s history, with most of the visible biota coming to rely on intracellular membrane-bound organelles. It has been suggested that this evolutionary transition was critically dependent on the movement of ATP synthesis from the cell surface to mitochondrial membranes and the resultant boost to the energetic capacity of eukaryotic cells. However, contrary to this hypothesis, numerous lines of evidence suggest that eukaryotes are no more bioenergetically efficient than prokaryotes. Thus, although the origin of the mitochondrion was a key event in evolutionary history, there is no reason to think membrane bioenergetics played a direct, causal role in the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes and the subsequent explosive diversification of cellular and organismal complexity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 16, 2017
- Source ID
- 10.7554/elife.20437
Entities
People
- Georgi K Marinov
- Michael Lynch
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- Indiana University
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- National Science Foundation