Complex archaea that bridge the gap between prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Nature. 2015 May 14;521(7551):173-179. doi: 10.1038/nature14447. Epub 2015 May 6.

Abstract

The origin of the eukaryotic cell remains one of the most contentious puzzles in modern biology. Recent studies have provided support for the emergence of the eukaryotic host cell from within the archaeal domain of life, but the identity and nature of the putative archaeal ancestor remain a subject of debate. Here we describe the discovery of 'Lokiarchaeota', a novel candidate archaeal phylum, which forms a monophyletic group with eukaryotes in phylogenomic analyses, and whose genomes encode an expanded repertoire of eukaryotic signature proteins that are suggestive of sophisticated membrane remodelling capabilities. Our results provide strong support for hypotheses in which the eukaryotic host evolved from a bona fide archaeon, and demonstrate that many components that underpin eukaryote-specific features were already present in that ancestor. This provided the host with a rich genomic 'starter-kit' to support the increase in the cellular and genomic complexity that is characteristic of eukaryotes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Actins / genetics
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Archaea / classification*
  • Archaea / genetics
  • Archaea / metabolism
  • Arctic Regions
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / genetics
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / metabolism
  • Eukaryota / classification*
  • Eukaryota / genetics
  • Eukaryota / metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Cells / classification
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Hydrothermal Vents / microbiology*
  • Metagenome / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Phylogeny*
  • Prokaryotic Cells / classification*
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / isolation & purification
  • Proteome / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Proteome
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JYIM00000000
  • GENBANK/KP869578
  • GENBANK/KP869579
  • GENBANK/KP869580
  • GENBANK/KP869581
  • GENBANK/KP869582
  • GENBANK/KP869583
  • GENBANK/KP869584
  • GENBANK/KP869585
  • GENBANK/KP869586
  • GENBANK/KP869587
  • GENBANK/KP869588
  • GENBANK/KP869589
  • GENBANK/KP869590
  • GENBANK/KP869591
  • GENBANK/KP869592
  • GENBANK/KP869593
  • GENBANK/KP869594
  • GENBANK/KP869595
  • GENBANK/KP869596
  • GENBANK/KP869597
  • GENBANK/KP869598
  • GENBANK/KP869599
  • GENBANK/KP869600
  • GENBANK/KP869601
  • GENBANK/KP869602
  • GENBANK/KP869603
  • GENBANK/KP869604
  • GENBANK/KP869605
  • GENBANK/KP869606
  • GENBANK/KP869607
  • GENBANK/KP869608
  • GENBANK/KP869609
  • GENBANK/KP869610
  • GENBANK/KP869611
  • GENBANK/KP869612
  • GENBANK/KP869613
  • GENBANK/KP869614
  • GENBANK/KP869615
  • GENBANK/KP869616
  • GENBANK/KP869617
  • GENBANK/KP869618
  • GENBANK/KP869619
  • GENBANK/KP869620
  • GENBANK/KP869621
  • GENBANK/KP869622
  • GENBANK/KP869623
  • GENBANK/KP869624
  • GENBANK/KP869625
  • GENBANK/KP869626
  • GENBANK/KP869627
  • GENBANK/KP869628
  • GENBANK/KP869629
  • GENBANK/KP869630
  • GENBANK/KP869631
  • GENBANK/KP869632
  • GENBANK/KP869633
  • GENBANK/KP869634
  • GENBANK/KP869635
  • GENBANK/KP869636
  • GENBANK/KP869637
  • GENBANK/KP869638
  • GENBANK/KP869639
  • GENBANK/KP869640
  • GENBANK/KP869641
  • GENBANK/KP869642
  • GENBANK/KP869643
  • GENBANK/KP869644
  • GENBANK/KP869645
  • GENBANK/KP869646
  • GENBANK/KP869647
  • GENBANK/KP869648
  • GENBANK/KP869649
  • GENBANK/KP869650
  • GENBANK/KP869651
  • GENBANK/KP869652
  • GENBANK/KP869653
  • GENBANK/KP869654
  • GENBANK/KP869655
  • GENBANK/KP869656
  • GENBANK/KP869657
  • GENBANK/KP869658
  • GENBANK/KP869659
  • GENBANK/KP869660
  • GENBANK/KP869661
  • GENBANK/KP869662
  • GENBANK/KP869663
  • GENBANK/KP869664
  • GENBANK/KP869665
  • GENBANK/KP869666
  • GENBANK/KP869667
  • GENBANK/KP869668
  • GENBANK/KP869669
  • GENBANK/KP869670
  • GENBANK/KP869671
  • GENBANK/KP869672
  • GENBANK/KP869673
  • GENBANK/KP869674
  • GENBANK/KP869675
  • GENBANK/KP869676
  • GENBANK/KP869677
  • GENBANK/KP869678
  • GENBANK/KP869679
  • GENBANK/KP869680
  • GENBANK/KP869681
  • GENBANK/KP869682
  • GENBANK/KP869683
  • GENBANK/KP869684
  • GENBANK/KP869685
  • GENBANK/KP869686
  • GENBANK/KP869687
  • GENBANK/KP869688
  • GENBANK/KP869689
  • GENBANK/KP869690
  • GENBANK/KP869691
  • GENBANK/KP869692
  • GENBANK/KP869693
  • GENBANK/KP869694
  • GENBANK/KP869695
  • GENBANK/KP869696
  • GENBANK/KP869697
  • GENBANK/KP869698
  • GENBANK/KP869699
  • GENBANK/KP869700
  • GENBANK/KP869701
  • GENBANK/KP869702
  • GENBANK/KP869703
  • GENBANK/KP869704
  • GENBANK/KP869705
  • GENBANK/KP869706
  • GENBANK/KP869707
  • GENBANK/KP869708
  • GENBANK/KP869709
  • GENBANK/KP869710
  • GENBANK/KP869711
  • GENBANK/KP869712
  • GENBANK/KP869713
  • GENBANK/KP869714
  • GENBANK/KP869715
  • GENBANK/KP869716
  • GENBANK/KP869717
  • GENBANK/KP869718
  • GENBANK/KP869719
  • GENBANK/KP869720
  • GENBANK/KP869721
  • GENBANK/KP869722
  • GENBANK/KP869723
  • GENBANK/KP869724
  • GENBANK/LAZR00000000
  • SRA/SRP045692