Massive gene loss in mistletoe (Viscum, Viscaceae) mitochondria

• DOI: 10.1038/srep17588
• Publication Date: 2015-12-02T10:29:36Z
• Authors: G. Petersen; A. Cuenca; I. M. Møller; O. Seberg
• Keywords: Parasitic plant; Orobanche

Abstract Parasitism is a successful survival strategy across all kingdoms and has evolved repeatedly in angiosperms. Parasitic plants obtain nutrients from other some are agricultural pests. Obligate parasites, which cannot complete their lifecycle without host, may lack functional photosystems (holoparasites), or have retained photosynthesis (hemiparasites). Plastid genomes often reduced but mitochondrial not been sequenced respiratory capacities largely unknown. The hemiparasitic European mistletoe ( Viscum album ), known folklore postulated therapeutic properties, pest plantations forestry. We compare the of three species based on genome V. , first parasitic plant. show that genes encoding proteins complexes lacking pseudogenized raising several questions relevant to plants: Are any gene functions essential? Do need be located can they transferred nucleus? Can survive oxidative phosphorylation by using alternative pathways? More generally, our study step towards understanding how host- self-perception, host integration nucleic acid transfer modified ancestral genomes.