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The opisthokonts (Greek: οπίσθω- (opisthō-) = "rear, posterior" + κοντός (kontos) = "pole" i.e. flagellum) are a broad group of eukaryotes, including both the animal and fungus kingdoms, together with the phylum Choanozoa of the protist kingdom. Both genetic and ultrastructural studies strongly support that opisthokonts form a monophyletic group. One common characteristic is that flagellate cells, such as most animal sperm and chytrid spores, propel themselves with a single posterior flagellum. This gives the groups its name. In contrast, flagellate cells in other eukaryote groups propel themselves with one or more anterior flagella.
The close relationship between animals and fungi was suggested by Cavalier-Smith in 1987, who used the informal name opisthokonta (the formal name has been used for the chytrids), and was confirmed by later genetic studies. Early phylogenies placed them near the plants and other groups that have mitochondria with flat cristae, but this character varies. Cavalier-Smith and Stechmann argue that the uniciliate eukaryotes such as opisthokonts and Amoebozoa, collectively called unikonts, split off from the other biciliate eukaryotes, called bikonts, shortly after they evolved.
[edit] See also
- Unikonts
- Choanozoa
- Bikonts
[edit] References
- Cavalier-Smith, T. (1987). The origin of fungi and pseudofungi. In A.D.M. Rayer et al. eds. Evolutionary biology of Fungi, p. 339-353.
- Wainwright P.O. et al. (1993). Monophyletic origins of the metazoa: an evolutionary link with fungi. Science 260: 340-342.
- Stechmann, A & T Cavalier-Smith (2002). Rooting the eukaryote tree by using a derived gene fusion. Science 297: 89–91.