Endosymbiosis

Venkatesh Rao
IB Year 1 A

Contents

Introductory Video
What is endosymbiosis?
Animated Representation
The Process Explained What is the Biological Reasoning?
History of Endosymbiosis
Endosymbiotic Gene Transfer
The Evidence
Secondary Endosymbiosis

Introductory Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FQmAnmLZtE

So, what is endosymbiosis?

This theory states that several organelles in eukaryotic cells

originated as mutual relationships between single-celled
prokaryotic organisms.
These organelles include mitochondria and chloroplasts
among many others.

Animated Representation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ESXvLHceDc

"Serial endosymbiosis" by Kelvinsong - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via
Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Serial_endosymbiosis.svg#mediaviewer/File:Serial_endosymbiosis.svg

"Endosymbiosis". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Endosymbiosis.PNG#mediaviewer/File:Endosymbiosis.PNG

A little about the theorys history

First thought of in 1910 by Russian botanistKonstantin
Mereschkowski[1]
The theory was initially dismissed
The theory was advanced by Lynn Margulis in 1967
Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by
networking[2]

"Lynn Margulis". Licensed

under Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 via
Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki/File:Lynn_Margulis.jpg#m
ediaviewer/File:Lynn_Margulis.j
pg

[1] Martin, William; Mayo Roettger, Thorsten Kloesges, Thorsten Thiergart, Christian Woehle, Sven Gould and Tal Dagan. "Modern endosymbiotic theory: Getting lateral
gene transfer in-to the equation".Journal of Endocytobiosis and Cell Research23: 15.
[2] Lynn Sagan (1967). "On the origin of mitosing cells".J Theor Biol14(3): 255274.doi:10.1016/0022-5193(67)90079-3.PMID11541392.

Endosymbiotic Gene Transfer

Some genes from the endosymbionts were transferred to the
nucleus of the host cell (which may have been a prokaryotic cell)
This is seen as the main move from a symbiotic community to a
fully instituted eukaryotic cell
Some DNA (in the form of plasmids) however, was left behind in
these endosymbionts (to form the organelles of eukaryotic cells)
This was tested by studying the number of genomes in a
bacterial cell and the number in organelles.

The Evidence
New mitochondria and chloroplasts are formed by a process similar to binary fission
If the mitochondria or chloroplasts of a cell are destroyed they will not regenerate
Transport proteins are found in the membranes of several organelles (to transport

genes)
The membrane lipid Cardiolipin, and several specific genes are found exclusively in
the inner mitochondrial membrane and the cell membrane of the bacteria Rickettsial
Mitochondria and chloroplasts contain plasmids which are similar to those in bacteria
Mitochondria have several enzymes and transport systems similar to those of bacteria
These organelles'ribosomesare like those found in bacteria (70S)

Secondary Endosymbiosis
This occurs when the product of a primary endosymbiosis is
itself engulfed and retained by another free living
eukaryotic cell. This process has led to the formation of
many diverse types of algae and other eukaryotic species.

http://endosymbiotichypothesis.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/pac
man-copy.gif

http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/pix/endosymbiosis1.jpg