# MitoCarta identifies 33 parasite-conserved mitochondrial proteins absent in humans

- Published: 2026-11-10 09:34 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Biology & biochemistry
- Tags: MitoCarta Tree of Life, mitoproteome analysis, protozoan pathogens, Broad Institute, LECA mitochondrion
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-ee685193b9080b8b3f93005c_mitocarta_identifies_33/

**Comparative profiling of mitoproteomes across eight eukaryotic lineages revealed potential pan-parasitic drug targets and reconstructed the organelle of LECA.**

![MitoCarta identifies 33 parasite-conserved mitochondrial proteins absent in humans](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/5d6636d06e004438.jpg)
*Earth.com*

Biologists from the MitoCarta Tree of Life consortium, led by researchers from the Broad Institute and Harvard Medical School, analyzed experimentally defined mitoproteomes across eight eukaryotic organisms [1]. According to the study published in *Cell*, the team characterized 8,619 mitochondrial proteins across 3,199 families, identifying 33 conserved protein families found in eukaryotic pathogens that are completely absent in humans [1]. These candidate targets could aid in developing selective treatments against protozoan infectious diseases [1].

## Structural Diversity and Drug Targets

The mitoproteome sizes varied widely across the investigated species: *Giardia* carried 59 mitochondrial proteins, while the parasite *Trypanosoma* contained 1,666 proteins [1]. The researchers reported that 43% of the identified 3,199 protein families lack known Pfam domains [1]. Among the 33 target families absent in humans, two enzymes—NDH2 and class I fumarate hydratase—had been previously explored as antiparasitic targets [1]. In *Plasmodium knowlesi*, 17 candidate counterparts were identified, with gene-knockout data showing 13 of them to be essential for survival [1].

## Evolutionary Trajectory and LECA Reconstruction

Using the experimental datasets, the team trained a classifier to predict mitoproteomes across roughly 200 eukaryotic organisms [1]. In *Monocercomonoides exilis*, the algorithm identified 23 predicted mitochondrial proteins, while signature mitochondrial elements were detected in *Skoliomonas litria* [1]. Reconstructing the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA), the authors found an estimated organelle of about 1,438 proteins capable of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism [1].

## Sources

1. [Cell](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2026.08.029)
2. [Earth.com](https://www.earth.com/science/mitochondria-power-our-cells-but-the-ones-inside-parasites-tell-a-stranger-story)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-ee685193b9080b8b3f93005c_mitocarta_identifies_33/