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The Methanogenic and Eubacterial Endosymbionts of Trimyema

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Book cover (Endo)symbiotic Methanogenic Archaea

Part of the book series: Microbiology Monographs ((MICROMONO,volume 19))

Abstract

Trimyema ciliates thrive in various anoxic environments in which they prey on bacteria and grow with fermentative metabolisms. Like many anaerobic protozoa, instead of mitochondria, Trimyema possess hydrogenosomes, which are hydrogen-producing, energy-generating organelles characteristic of anaerobic protozoa and fungi. The cytoplasm of Trimyema harbours hydrogenotrophic methanogens that consume the hydrogen produced by these organelles, which confers an energetic advantage to the host ciliate. Symbiotic associations between methanogenic archaea and Trimyema ciliates are thought to be established independently and/or repeatedly in their evolutional history. In addition to methanogenic symbionts, it has been shown that Trimyema compressum houses bacterial symbionts. Although almost nothing is known about the symbionts except for their phylogeny, this intriguing multi-symbiosis would be a good model for investigating symbiotic interactions among bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. In this chapter, we summarise the early works and recent progress of studies on Trimyema ciliates, in particular T. compressum, and discuss the nature of this symbiosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    Naoya Shinzato

  2. Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-17-2-1, Tsukisamu-Higashi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 062-8517, Japan

    Yoichi Kamagata

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  1. Naoya Shinzato
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  2. Yoichi Kamagata
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Correspondence to Yoichi Kamagata .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, University of Nijmegen, POB 9010, Nijmegen, 6500 GL, Netherlands

    Johannes H.P. Hackstein

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Shinzato, N., Kamagata, Y. (2010). The Methanogenic and Eubacterial Endosymbionts of Trimyema . In: Hackstein, J. (eds) (Endo)symbiotic Methanogenic Archaea. Microbiology Monographs, vol 19. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13615-3_4

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