AUTHOR=Tremp Annie Z. , Saeed Sadia , Dessens Johannes T. 

TITLE=NAD(P) transhydrogenase isoform distribution provides insight into apicomplexan evolution

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1216385

DOI=10.3389/fevo.2023.1216385

ISSN=2296-701X

ABSTRACT=<p>Membrane-located NAD(P) transhydrogenase (NTH) catalyses reversible hydride ion transfer between NAD(H) and NADP(H), simultaneously translocating a proton across the membrane. The enzyme is structurally conserved across prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In heterotrophic bacteria NTH proteins reside in the cytoplasmic membrane, whereas in animals they localise in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Eukaryotic NTH proteins exists in two distinct configurations (isoforms) and have non-mitochondrial functions in unicellular eukaryotes like <italic>Plasmodium</italic>, the causative agent of malaria. In this study, we carried out a systematic analysis of <italic>nth</italic> genes across eukaryotic life to determine its prevalence and distribution of isoforms. The results reveal that NTH is found across all major lineages, but that some organisms, notably plants, lack <italic>nth</italic> genes altogether. Isoform distribution and phylogenetic analysis reveals different <italic>nth</italic> gene loss scenarios in apicomplexan lineages, which sheds new light on the evolution of the Piroplasmida and <italic>Eimeriidae</italic>.</p>