Fig 1.
Distribution of model organisms in the current eukaryotic tree of life.
Model systems capable of transgenic manipulation (according to evidence in the literature) that are considered to be typical canonical models and parasites (designated as in symbol key below tree) are indicated at ends of branches, usually by genus name. The exceptions are “Trypanosome” and “Mammal,” which contain several genera that are indicated in Fig 3. Names of lineages demarked by branches are given in outside grey semicircle. Dashed branch to LECA at root of tree indicates its ambiguous position in the current tree. Only supergroups that are discussed here are highlighted. Larger formal groups are labeled at the root of their respective subtrees. LECA, last eukaryotic common ancestor.
Fig 2.
Conserved and diverged features of yeast and trypanosome MICOS.
(A) Basic mitochondrial architecture with relevant subcompartments indicated. (B) Comparison of MICOS complexes from yeast and trypanosomes. Color of outer and inner membrane phospholipid bilayers (double lines) as in (A). Subcomplex architecture indicated by brackets and color of component subunits. Only the numbers used in naming the MICOS subunits by the MicXX convention [22] are given. Conserved features of 2 complexes in black text with remaining uncertainties in red text. Extra-MICOS interactions indicated by back arrows pointing to interacting entity. Proteins involved in mitochondrial protein import in blue with red outline. CJ, crista junction; HS/SH, cysteine thiol side chain; IMS, intermembrane space; MICOS, mitochondrial contact site and cristae organization system; TIM, translocase of the inner membrane.
Fig 3.
Distribution of “Molecular Biology and Biochemistry” and “Cell Biology” 2018 primary research articles from conventional and noncanonical model organisms.
The Web of Science database was searched for each model system mentioned here and in Fig 1 in the year 2018, excluding review articles. The number of articles in these 2 categories was recorded, with articles that were categorized as both “Molecular Biology and Biochemistry” and “Cell Biology” collapsed into one entry. Top bar is the distribution of all articles, while middle bar is a detail showing these statistics for noncanonical model organisms. The bottom bar depicts how many articles come from noncanonical models that are parasites (in black) and free-living organisms (“Free,” white), with percentage (of total noncanonical models) and total article numbers as in the other 2 bars. Total numbers of articles and percentages of total articles from all model organisms are given on top and bottom, respectively, of each category box. Boxes that are too small to report these statistics are demarked with a small letter; their statistics are given between top and middle bars. Monoexenous refers to cultured insect trypanosome species. CHO, Chinese hamster ovary cell line.