Evolution of self-limited cell division of symbionts

Yu Uchiumi, Hisashi Ohtsuki, Akira Sasaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In mutualism between unicellular hosts and their endosymbionts, symbiont's cell division is often synchronized with its host's, ensuring the permanent relationship between endosymbionts and their hosts. The evolution of synchronized cell division thus has been considered to be an essential step in the evolutionary transition from symbionts to organelles. However, if symbionts would accelerate their cell division without regard for the synchronization with the host, they would proliferate more efficiently. Thus, it is paradoxical that symbionts evolve to limit their own division for synchronized cell division. Here, we theoretically explore the condition for the evolution of self-limited cell division of symbionts, by assuming that symbionts control their division rate and that hosts control symbionts' death rate by intracellular digestion and nutrient supply. Our analysis shows that symbionts can evolve to limit their own cell division. Such evolution occurs if not only symbiont's but also host's benefit through symbiosis is large. Moreover, the coevolution of hosts and symbionts leads to either permanent symbiosis where symbionts proliferate to keep pace with their host, or the arms race between symbionts that behave as lytic parasites and hosts that resist them by rapid digestion.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20182238
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume286
Issue number1895
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Mutualism
  • Symbiogenesis
  • Symbiosis
  • Synchronized cell division
  • Vertical transmission
  • Virulence

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