Incomplete sterols and hopanoids pathways in ciliates: Gene loss and acquisition during evolution as a source of biosynthetic genes

[Display omitted] •Current knowledge in sterol and hopanoid metabolism in ciliates.•Phylogenetic analysis of genesof the pre- and post-squalene pathways, indicates that many of them have been acquired via HGT.•Gene loss and acquisition, has allowed tetrahymanol synthesis in some ciliates. Polycyclic...

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