Genetic code and phylogenetic origin of oomycetous mitochondria

Abstract

We sequenced the 3'-terminal part of the COX3 gene encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 from mitochondria of Phytophthora parasitica (phylum Oomycota, kingdom Protoctista). Comparison of the sequence with known COX3 genes revealed that UGG is used as a tryptophan codon in contrast to UGA in the mitochondrial codes of most organisms other than green plants. A very high AT mutation pressure operates on the mitochondrial genome of Phytophthora, as revealed by codon usage and by A+T content of noncoding regions, which seems paradoxical because AT pressure causes tryptophan codon reassignment from UGG to UGA in mitochondria of most species. The genetic code and other data suggest that mitochondria of Oomycota share a direct common ancestor with mitochondria of plants and that mitochondria of the ancestor of Planta and Oomycota were acquired in a second endosymbiotic event, which occurred later than the acquisition of mitochondria by other eukaryotes.