What is a hydrogenosome?
Q: What is a hydrogenosome?
A: A hydrogenosome is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in some anaerobic ciliates, trichomonads, fungi, and a few metazoa.
Q: What is the role of hydrogenosomes in trichomonads?
A: The hydrogenosomes of trichomonads produce ATP by a complex metabolic cycle that does not require oxygen.
Q: How did hydrogenosomes evolve?
A: Hydrogenosomes are thought to have evolved from mitochondria, as their structure is similar.
Q: Which organisms have hydrogenosome-like organelles?
A: In 2010, scientists discovered Loricifera, anaerobic metazoans living in sediments under deep-water brine pools like the L'Atalante basin, with hydrogenosome-like organelles.
Q: What type of environment do brine pools like L'Atalante have?
A: Brine pools like L'Atalante are completely without oxygen and are therefore anoxic.
Q: Do all anaerobic ciliates, trichomonads, fungi, and metazoa have hydrogenosomes?
A: No, only some anaerobic ciliates, trichomonads, fungi, and a few metazoa have hydrogenosomes.
Q: What makes the metabolic cycle of hydrogenosomes different from that of mitochondria?
A: The metabolic cycle of hydrogenosomes does not use oxygen.
