2024/02/19

THE ENDOSYMBIONT
THEORY

Composite ancestry – some

nuclear genes similar to
archaeal and bacterial
genes
Archaea-like genes tend to
govern genetic processes
(DNA replication,
transcription, and translation)
Bacteria-like genes tend to
govern metabolism and
membrane formation

EUKARYOTIC CELLS

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Nucleus and Endomembrane

system probably evolved
from infoldings of the
plasma membrane
Advantageous – increase
surface area for reactions

ORIGIN OF INTERNAL
MEMBRANES
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NUCLEAR
MEMBRANE
Advantageous – protects DNA from
physical and biological threats
Protection from: radiation, viruses,
interference

Bacteria with enclosed DNA can

withstand much higher levels of
radiation compared to other
Bacteria.
Example: Gemmata obscuriglobus

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BACTERIA
Modern Bacteria do have some
membrane enclosed compartments
Not many – rare
Example: Nitrosococcus oceani
Highly folded internal membrane
Enzymes embedded in the
membrane allow the cell to meet its
energy needs – breaks down
ammonia

Resemble Bacteria in size and shape

Contain circular DNA
Behave independently
Duplicate their own DNA
Divide separately to the cell

MITOCHONDRIA AND
CHLOROPLASTS

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EVOLUTION OF MITOCHONDRIA AND

CHLOROPLASTS
The Endosymbiont Theory
Descendants of Bacteria

THE ENDOSYMBIONT THEORY

These organelles evolved as a result of
endosymbiosis

One type of cell (symbiont) lives and replicates

inside another cell (host)

The host cell passes on some of the symbiont cells

along to its descendants when it divides

Become dependent on one another

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THE ENDOSYMBIONT THEORY - MITOCHONDRIA

An early eukaryotic cell engulfed a bacterial cell.

Instead of destroying it kept the cell

The host began using the ATP produced by the bacterial cell

The symbiont began relying on the host for raw materials

Over time the genes in the host and symbiont mutated

If a gene lost its function in one partner then a gene from the other cell could take up the slack

Eventually, both cells became incapable of living independently

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Same process
Cyanobacteria

THE ENDOSYMBIONT THEORY -

CHLOROPLASTS

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Suppose an Archaea
engulfed a bacterial cell
Over time genes from the
bacterial cell migrated into
the archaeal cell
Those genes were lost in the
bacterial cell
Hence, today a composite
genome
ENDOSYMBIOSIS AND THE
COMPOSITE GENOME
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EVIDENCE IN LIVING CELLS

1966
Amoeba culture became infected with a rod-shaped bacteria
Some of the infected cells died right away, others did not
The cultures were maintained
Five years later the descendants of these cells were host to
many bacterial cells and yet seemed healthy
When treated to kill the bacterial cells the Amoeba cells also
died
The Amoeba cells had lost the ability to make an essential
enzyme

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TIMELINE
Before cells: biological Origin of cells: simple
molecules forming (5 - structures, anaerobic (3,8
3,8 billion years) billion years)

Three Domains: first Photosynthesis and

divergence – Bacteria Aerobic respiration: first
and ancestor (lineage) – photosynthesis – oxygen
second divergence – accumulates – aerobic
Archaea and Eukarya respiration (3,2-2,7
(lineage) billion years)

Origin of Endomembrane Endosymbiosis:

and Nucleus: cell size mitochondria (1,2 billion
and genome expand (3- years)
2 billion years)

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HOW MANY TIMES

DID ENDOSYMBIOSIS
OCCUR?

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LECTURE ATTENDANCE
(GO TO MOODLE)
SELF-ENROLMENT:
cellbio2024

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