Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective

Phosphorus is essential for all life forms on Earth, including eukaryotes (animals, plants, fungi, and protists), prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea), and even viruses. Its significance stems primarily from its presence in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), where it forms a crucial part of the backbone str...

Πλήρης περιγραφή

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Κύριος συγγραφέας: Shozo H. Sugiura
Μορφή: Άρθρο
Γλώσσα:English
Έκδοση: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Σειρά:Fishes
Θέματα:
Διαθέσιμο Online:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/2/48
_version_ 1826582493460955136
author Shozo H. Sugiura
author_facet Shozo H. Sugiura
author_sort Shozo H. Sugiura
collection DOAJ
description Phosphorus is essential for all life forms on Earth, including eukaryotes (animals, plants, fungi, and protists), prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea), and even viruses. Its significance stems primarily from its presence in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), where it forms a crucial part of the backbone structure. Beyond this, phosphorus plays a pivotal role in countless biological processes, supporting life at its core. In this article, the author explores the possible causes of stomach loss, focusing specifically on phosphorus absorption, vertebral calcification, and reproduction. Large gonads, characteristic of external fertilization, require substantial amounts of phosphorus for gametogenesis in both females and males, particularly in the latter. This demand has driven the evolutionary calcification of vertebrae, which serve as a phosphorus storage organ. Moreover, to efficiently absorb phosphorus from their diets, shellfish-eating fish have evolved to either lose their stomachs or reduce gastric acidity, minimizing the formation of calcium phosphate precipitates in the intestine.
first_indexed 2025-03-14T15:06:50Z
format Article
id doaj.art-618d24363d204e7395bb72e16eb0c95e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2410-3888
language English
last_indexed 2025-03-14T15:06:50Z
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Fishes
spelling doaj.art-618d24363d204e7395bb72e16eb0c95e2025-02-25T13:28:36ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882025-01-011024810.3390/fishes10020048Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus PerspectiveShozo H. Sugiura0School of Environmental Sciences, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone 522-8533, JapanPhosphorus is essential for all life forms on Earth, including eukaryotes (animals, plants, fungi, and protists), prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea), and even viruses. Its significance stems primarily from its presence in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), where it forms a crucial part of the backbone structure. Beyond this, phosphorus plays a pivotal role in countless biological processes, supporting life at its core. In this article, the author explores the possible causes of stomach loss, focusing specifically on phosphorus absorption, vertebral calcification, and reproduction. Large gonads, characteristic of external fertilization, require substantial amounts of phosphorus for gametogenesis in both females and males, particularly in the latter. This demand has driven the evolutionary calcification of vertebrae, which serve as a phosphorus storage organ. Moreover, to efficiently absorb phosphorus from their diets, shellfish-eating fish have evolved to either lose their stomachs or reduce gastric acidity, minimizing the formation of calcium phosphate precipitates in the intestine.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/2/48bone calcificationexternal fertilizationphosphorus absorptionreproductionstomach loss
spellingShingle Shozo H. Sugiura
Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective
Fishes
bone calcification
external fertilization
phosphorus absorption
reproduction
stomach loss
title Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective
title_full Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective
title_fullStr Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective
title_short Evolutionary Loss of Acid-Secreting Stomach and Endoskeletal Ossification: A Phosphorus Perspective
title_sort evolutionary loss of acid secreting stomach and endoskeletal ossification a phosphorus perspective
topic bone calcification
external fertilization
phosphorus absorption
reproduction
stomach loss
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/2/48
work_keys_str_mv AT shozohsugiura evolutionarylossofacidsecretingstomachandendoskeletalossificationaphosphorusperspective