Monocercomonoides exilis strain:PA203 Genome sequencing and assembly

Our genomic study of a microbial anaerobic eukaryote Monocercomonoides sp. demonstrated lack of mitochondria. This overturns cell biology principle that all eukaryotes must possess mitochondria. We also showed that this microeukaryote acquired bacterial Fe-S assembly machinery (SUF system) through horizontal gene transfer and replaced the essential mitochondrial ISC pathway. This was probably the critical step that allowed for elimination of the mitochondrion.