Hydrogenosome

mitochondrion-derived organelle in anaerobes

A hydrogenosome is a membrane-enclosed organelle of some anaerobic ciliates, trichomonads, fungi and a few metazoa. The hydrogenosomes of trichomonads (the best studied) produce ATP by a complex metabolic cycle. Unlike mitochondria, this cycle does not use oxygen. It is thought that hydrogenosomes evolved from mitochondria; their structure is rather similar.

Abb.1: Model of ATP-synthesis in hydrogenosomes.[1]
abb.: CoA = Coenzyme A

In 2010, scientists reported their discovery of the first known anaerobic metazoans with hydrogenosome-like organelles.[2] These organisms were Loricifera living in sediments under deep-water brine pools like the L'Atalante basin. These brine pools are completely without any oxygen (anoxic).

References

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  1. Müller M, Lindmark DG (February 1978). "Respiration of hydrogenosomes of Tritrichomonas foetus. II. Effect of CoA on pyruvate oxidation". J. Biol. Chem. 253 (4): 1215–8. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(17)38132-2. PMID 624726.[permanent dead link]
  2. Danovaro R; et al. (April 2010). "The first metazoa living in permanently anoxic conditions". BMC Biol. 8 (1): 30. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-8-30. PMC 2907586. PMID 20370908.