Evolution and metabolite signaling of fumarases (class I and II): origin, function, and subcellular targeting.

Class I fumarases are mainly found in bacteria and select eukaryotic groups, with their distribution suggesting horizontal gene transfer from bacteria to eukaryotes.

• Why it matters: Understanding the evolutionary origins and distribution of fumarases helps clarify their essential roles in metabolism and DNA repair across diverse life forms.
• What they did: Using a dataset of approximately 21,000 proteomes and phylogenetic analysis, the study examined the prevalence, relationships, and structural conservation of class I and II fumarases across the tree of life.
• The result: Findings indicate that fumarases' extramitochondrial functions and subcellular localization were acquired later in evolution, with metabolic signaling likely driving their dual functions and targeting in cells.