About this Research Topic
Mitochondria are organelles of the eukaryotic cells that provide the platform for the efficient production of ATP and other key biochemical intermediates. Most fungi are obligate aerobes, thus fully functional mitochondria are of utmost importance. Mitochondria originated from an ancestral Alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont and they are semi-autonomous, since they carry their own mitochondrial (mt) genomes and the components for protein synthesis. Mitogenomes do not encode for all molecules necessary for the function and structure of the organelle, therefore, co-operation with the nucleus is indispensable. Fungi inhabit a diverse range of ecosystems with different modes of life histories. They represent a diverse group of organisms of great ecological and economic significance and their diversity, if correlated to their mitogenomes and genes, may provide insights in the evolution of fungi and their organelles including interactions between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.
The goal is to decipher the evolution of mitochondria in fungi with an emphasis on the mitogenome and its components. Factors and mechanisms involved in mitogenome organization, content (including RNA coding, protein and non-coding elements), synteny (gene shuffling), intron abundance and their encoded proteins, their role to mobility and the structure and function of mt genes are suitable studies for this topic. Gaining insights on the contribution of nuclear-encoded genes in the organization of mt genomes, expression and function of mt genes, import of proteins or RNAs from the cytoplasm required for the proper function of the mitochondria are important aspects which have to be investigated within the context of mitogenome evolution within the Mycota.
This Research Topic focuses on studies (including e.g. original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) that investigate and discuss subjects that include:
• The evolution of mt genomes in fungi and insights into fungal evolution.
• The study of genetic mechanisms like recombination and transposition and their contribution to the evolution of mt genes in fungi.
• The role of nuclear encoded genes towards mitochondrial maintenance and evolution.
• The evolution of mitochondrial-nuclear genome interactions.
• The impact of the mobility of genetic elements through Organellar Gene Transfer (OGT) and Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) events to the evolution of the mt genomes.
The goal is to decipher the evolution of mitochondria in fungi with an emphasis on the mitogenome and its components. Factors and mechanisms involved in mitogenome organization, content (including RNA coding, protein and non-coding elements), synteny (gene shuffling), intron abundance and their encoded proteins, their role to mobility and the structure and function of mt genes are suitable studies for this topic. Gaining insights on the contribution of nuclear-encoded genes in the organization of mt genomes, expression and function of mt genes, import of proteins or RNAs from the cytoplasm required for the proper function of the mitochondria are important aspects which have to be investigated within the context of mitogenome evolution within the Mycota.
This Research Topic focuses on studies (including e.g. original research, perspectives, minireviews, commentaries and opinion papers) that investigate and discuss subjects that include:
• The evolution of mt genomes in fungi and insights into fungal evolution.
• The study of genetic mechanisms like recombination and transposition and their contribution to the evolution of mt genes in fungi.
• The role of nuclear encoded genes towards mitochondrial maintenance and evolution.
• The evolution of mitochondrial-nuclear genome interactions.
• The impact of the mobility of genetic elements through Organellar Gene Transfer (OGT) and Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) events to the evolution of the mt genomes.
Keywords: Organellar Gene Transfer, Horizontal Gene Transfer, Mitochondrial Genomes, Fungal Evolution, Mitogenomes
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