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Cha HJ, He C, Glover DJ, Xu K, Clark DS. STORM Super-Resolution Visualization of Self-Assembled γPFD Chaperone Ultrastructures in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:6078-6083. [PMID: 38723608 PMCID: PMC11117396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Gamma-prefoldin (γPFD), a unique chaperone found in the extremely thermophilic methanogen Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, self-assembles into filaments in vitro, which so far have been observed using transmission electron microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. Utilizing three-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (3D-STORM), here we achieve ∼20 nm resolution by precisely locating individual fluorescent molecules, hence resolving γPFD ultrastructure both in vitro and in vivo. Through CF647 NHS ester labeling, we first demonstrate the accurate visualization of filaments and bundles with purified γPFD. Next, by implementing immunofluorescence labeling after creating a 3xFLAG-tagged γPFD strain, we successfully visualize γPFD in M. jannaschii cells. Through 3D-STORM and two-color STORM imaging with DNA, we show the widespread distribution of filamentous γPFD structures within the cell. These findings provide valuable insights into the structure and localization of γPFD, opening up possibilities for studying intriguing nanoscale components not only in archaea but also in other microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Jeong Cha
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California—Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Changdong He
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California—Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Dominic J. Glover
- School
of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ke Xu
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California—Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Molecular
Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Douglas S. Clark
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California—Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Molecular
Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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2
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Baum B, Spang A. On the origin of the nucleus: a hypothesis. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0018621. [PMID: 38018971 PMCID: PMC10732040 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00186-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYIn this hypothesis article, we explore the origin of the eukaryotic nucleus. In doing so, we first look afresh at the nature of this defining feature of the eukaryotic cell and its core functions-emphasizing the utility of seeing the eukaryotic nucleoplasm and cytoplasm as distinct regions of a common compartment. We then discuss recent progress in understanding the evolution of the eukaryotic cell from archaeal and bacterial ancestors, focusing on phylogenetic and experimental data which have revealed that many eukaryotic machines with nuclear activities have archaeal counterparts. In addition, we review the literature describing the cell biology of representatives of the TACK and Asgardarchaeaota - the closest known living archaeal relatives of eukaryotes. Finally, bringing these strands together, we propose a model for the archaeal origin of the nucleus that explains much of the current data, including predictions that can be used to put the model to the test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buzz Baum
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, the Netherlands
- Department of Evolutionary & Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, the Netherlands
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3
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Banas I, Esser SP, Turzynski V, Soares A, Novikova P, May P, Moraru C, Hasenberg M, Rahlff J, Wilmes P, Klingl A, Probst AJ. Spatio-functional organization in virocells of small uncultivated archaea from the deep biosphere. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1789-1792. [PMID: 37468677 PMCID: PMC10504349 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01474-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite important ecological roles posited for virocells (i.e., cells infected with viruses), studying individual cells in situ is technically challenging. We introduce here a novel correlative microscopic approach to study the ecophysiology of virocells. By conducting concerted virusFISH, 16S rRNA FISH, and scanning electron microscopy interrogations of uncultivated archaea, we linked morphologies of various altiarchaeal cells to corresponding phylogenetic signals and indigenous virus infections. While uninfected cells exhibited moderate separation between fluorescence signals of ribosomes and DNA, virocells displayed complete cellular segregation of chromosomal DNA from viral DNA, the latter co-localizing with host ribosome signals. A similar spatial separation was observed in dividing cells, with viral signals congregating near ribosomes at the septum. These observations suggest that replication of these uncultivated viruses occurs alongside host ribosomes, which are used to generate the required proteins for virion assembly. Heavily infected cells sometimes displayed virus-like particles attached to their surface, which agree with virus structures in cells observed via transmission electron microscopy. Consequently, this approach is the first to link genomes of uncultivated viruses to their respective structures and host cells. Our findings shed new light on the complex ecophysiology of archaeal virocells in deep subsurface biofilms and provide a solid framework for future in situ studies of virocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra Banas
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sarah P Esser
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Victoria Turzynski
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - André Soares
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Polina Novikova
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Patrick May
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Cristina Moraru
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | - Janina Rahlff
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Plant Development & Electron Microscopy, Biocenter LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Planegg, Germany.
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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4
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van Hooff JJE. Towards unraveling the origins of eukaryotic nuclear genome organization. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:820-823. [PMID: 37558594 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
With 3D genome mapping maturing over the past decade, studies exposed the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic genome organization. This raises the question of how the complex eukaryotic genome organization originated. Here, I explore potential pathways to answering this question, guided by our changing understanding of the origins of eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien J E van Hooff
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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5
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Tirumalai MR, Sivaraman RV, Kutty LA, Song EL, Fox GE. Ribosomal Protein Cluster Organization in Asgard Archaea. ARCHAEA (VANCOUVER, B.C.) 2023; 2023:5512414. [PMID: 38314098 PMCID: PMC10833476 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5512414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
It has been proposed that the superphylum of Asgard Archaea may represent a historical link between the Archaea and Eukarya. Following the discovery of the Archaea, it was soon appreciated that archaeal ribosomes were more similar to those of Eukarya rather than Bacteria. Coupled with other eukaryotic-like features, it has been suggested that the Asgard Archaea may be directly linked to eukaryotes. However, the genomes of Bacteria and non-Asgard Archaea generally organize ribosome-related genes into clusters that likely function as operons. In contrast, eukaryotes typically do not employ an operon strategy. To gain further insight into conservation of the r-protein genes, the genome order of conserved ribosomal protein (r-protein) coding genes was identified in 17 Asgard genomes (thirteen complete genomes and four genomes with less than 20 contigs) and compared with those found previously in non-Asgard archaeal and bacterial genomes. A universal core of two clusters of 14 and 4 cooccurring r-proteins, respectively, was identified in both the Asgard and non-Asgard Archaea. The equivalent genes in the E. coli version of the cluster are found in the S10 and spc operons. The large cluster of 14 r-protein genes (uS19-uL22-uS3-uL29-uS17 from the S10 operon and uL14-uL24-uL5-uS14-uS8-uL6-uL18-uS5-uL30-uL15 from the spc operon) occurs as a complete set in the genomes of thirteen Asgard genomes (five Lokiarchaeotes, three Heimdallarchaeotes, one Odinarchaeote, and four Thorarchaeotes). Four less conserved clusters with partial bacterial equivalents were found in the Asgard. These were the L30e (str operon in Bacteria) cluster, the L18e (alpha operon in Bacteria) cluster, the S24e-S27ae-rpoE1 cluster, and the L31e, L12..L1 cluster. Finally, a new cluster referred to as L7ae was identified. In many cases, r-protein gene clusters/operons are less conserved in their organization in the Asgard group than in other Archaea. If this is generally true for nonribosomal gene clusters, the results may have implications for the history of genome organization. In particular, there may have been an early transition to or from the operon approach to genome organization. Other nonribosomal cellular features may support different relationships. For this reason, it may be important to consider ribosome features separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhan R. Tirumalai
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5001, USA
| | | | | | | | - George E. Fox
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5001, USA
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6
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Donoghue PCJ, Kay C, Spang A, Szöllősi G, Nenarokova A, Moody ERR, Pisani D, Williams TA. Defining eukaryotes to dissect eukaryogenesis. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R919-R929. [PMID: 37699353 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The origin of eukaryotes is among the most contentious debates in evolutionary biology, attracting multiple seemingly incompatible theories seeking to explain the sequence in which eukaryotic characteristics were acquired. Much of the controversy arises from differing views on the defining characteristics of eukaryotes. We argue that eukaryotes should be defined phylogenetically, and that doing so clarifies where competing hypotheses of eukaryogenesis agree and how we may test among aspects of disagreement. Some hypotheses make predictions about the phylogenetic origins of eukaryotic genes and are distinguishable on that basis. However, other hypotheses differ only in the order of key evolutionary steps, like mitochondrial endosymbiosis and nuclear assembly, which cannot currently be distinguished phylogenetically. Stages within eukaryogenesis may be made identifiable through the absolute dating of gene duplicates that map to eukaryotic traits, such as in genes of host or mitochondrial origin that duplicated and diverged functionally prior to emergence of the last eukaryotic common ancestor. In this way, it may finally be possible to distinguish heat from light in the debate over eukaryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip C J Donoghue
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Chris Kay
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Utrecht University, Den Burg 1790 AB, The Netherlands
| | - Gergely Szöllősi
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös Lorand University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE "Lendü let" Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Evolution, Centre for Ecological Research, H-1113 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Nenarokova
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Edmund R R Moody
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Davide Pisani
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK; Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Tom A Williams
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
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7
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Nachmias D, Melnikov N, Zorea A, Sharon M, Yemini R, De-Picchoto Y, Tsirkas I, Aharoni A, Frohn B, Schwille P, Zarivach R, Mizrahi I, Elia N. Asgard ESCRT-III and VPS4 reveal conserved chromatin binding properties of the ESCRT machinery. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:117-129. [PMID: 36221007 PMCID: PMC9751279 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01328-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The archaeal Asgard superphylum currently stands as the most promising prokaryotic candidate, from which eukaryotic cells emerged. This unique superphylum encodes for eukaryotic signature proteins (ESP) that could shed light on the origin of eukaryotes, but the properties and function of these proteins is largely unresolved. Here, we set to understand the function of an Asgard archaeal protein family, namely the ESCRT machinery, that is conserved across all domains of life and executes basic cellular eukaryotic functions, including membrane constriction during cell division. We find that ESCRT proteins encoded in Loki archaea, express in mammalian and yeast cells, and that the Loki ESCRT-III protein, CHMP4-7, resides in the eukaryotic nucleus in both organisms. Moreover, Loki ESCRT-III proteins associated with chromatin, recruited their AAA-ATPase VPS4 counterpart to organize in discrete foci in the mammalian nucleus, and directly bind DNA. The human ESCRT-III protein, CHMP1B, exhibited similar nuclear properties and recruited both human and Asgard VPS4s to nuclear foci, indicating interspecies interactions. Mutation analysis revealed a role for the N terminal region of ESCRT-III in mediating these phenotypes in both human and Asgard ESCRTs. These findings suggest that ESCRT proteins hold chromatin binding properties that were highly preserved through the billion years of evolution separating Asgard archaea and humans. The conserved chromatin binding properties of the ESCRT membrane remodeling machinery, reported here, may have important implications for the origin of eukaryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dikla Nachmias
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Nataly Melnikov
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Alvah Zorea
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Maya Sharon
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Reut Yemini
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Yasmin De-Picchoto
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Ioannis Tsirkas
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Amir Aharoni
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Bela Frohn
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - Raz Zarivach
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Itzhak Mizrahi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Natalie Elia
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel.
- National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel.
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8
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Spang A. Is an archaeon the ancestor of eukaryotes? Environ Microbiol 2022; 25:775-779. [PMID: 36562617 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The origin of complex cellular life is a key puzzle in evolutionary research, which has broad implications for various neighbouring scientific disciplines. Naturally, views on this topic vary widely depending on the world view and context from which this topic is approached. In the following, I will share my perspective about our current scientific knowledge on the origin of eukaryotic cells, that is, eukaryogenesis, from a biological point of view focusing on the question as to whether an archaeon was the ancestor of eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Spang
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, AB Den Burg, The Netherlands.,Department of Evolutionary & Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Inturi R, Lara S, Derweesh M, Chi CN. Structural Characterization of a Thorarchaeota Profilin Indicates Eukaryotic-Like Features but with an Extended N-Terminus. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2101323. [PMID: 35429148 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of the first eukaryotic cell is preceded by evolutionary events, which are still highly debatable. Clues of the exact sequence of events are beginning to emerge. Recent metagenomics analyses has uncovered the Asgard super-phylum as the closest yet known archaea host of eukaryotes. Some of these have been tested and confirmed experimentally. However, the bulk of eukaryotic signature proteins predicted to be encoded by the Asgard super-phylum have not been studied, and their true functions, at least in the context of a eukaryotic cell, are still elusive. For example, there are several different variants of the profilin within each Asgardian Achaea, and there are some conflicting results of their actual roles. Here, the 3D structure of profilin from Thorarchaeota is determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and shows that this profilin has a eukaryotic-like profilin with a rigid core and an extended N-terminus previously implicated in polyproline binding. In addition, it is also shown that Thorarchaeota Profilin co-localizes with eukaryotic actin in cultured HeLa cells. This finding reaffirms the notion that Asgardian encoded proteins possess eukaryotic-like characteristics and strengthen the likely existence of a complex cytoskeleton already in a last eukaryotic common ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raviteja Inturi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, BMC Box 582, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden
| | - Sandra Lara
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, BMC Box 582, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden
| | - Mahmoud Derweesh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, BMC Box 582, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alazhr University, 55QC+8Q, Asyut 2, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Celestine N Chi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, BMC Box 582, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden
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10
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Vosseberg J, Schinkel M, Gremmen S, Snel B. The spread of the first introns in proto-eukaryotic paralogs. Commun Biol 2022; 5:476. [PMID: 35589959 PMCID: PMC9120149 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Spliceosomal introns are a unique feature of eukaryotic genes. Previous studies have established that many introns were present in the protein-coding genes of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA). Intron positions shared between genes that duplicated before LECA could in principle provide insight into the emergence of the first introns. In this study we use ancestral intron position reconstructions in two large sets of duplicated families to systematically identify these ancient paralogous intron positions. We found that 20-35% of introns inferred to have been present in LECA were shared between paralogs. These shared introns, which likely preceded ancient duplications, were wide spread across different functions, with the notable exception of nuclear transport. Since we observed a clear signal of pervasive intron loss prior to LECA, it is likely that substantially more introns were shared at the time of duplication than we can detect in LECA. The large extent of shared introns indicates an early origin of introns during eukaryogenesis and suggests an early origin of a nuclear structure, before most of the other complex eukaryotic features were established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Vosseberg
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Michelle Schinkel
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd Gremmen
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Berend Snel
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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11
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Akıl C, Ali S, Tran LT, Gaillard J, Li W, Hayashida K, Hirose M, Kato T, Oshima A, Fujishima K, Blanchoin L, Narita A, Robinson RC. Structure and dynamics of Odinarchaeota tubulin and the implications for eukaryotic microtubule evolution. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm2225. [PMID: 35333570 PMCID: PMC8956254 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm2225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Tubulins are critical for the internal organization of eukaryotic cells, and understanding their emergence is an important question in eukaryogenesis. Asgard archaea are the closest known prokaryotic relatives to eukaryotes. Here, we elucidated the apo and nucleotide-bound x-ray structures of an Asgard tubulin from hydrothermal living Odinarchaeota (OdinTubulin). The guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-bound structure resembles a microtubule protofilament, with GTP bound between subunits, coordinating the "+" end subunit through a network of water molecules and unexpectedly by two cations. A water molecule is located suitable for GTP hydrolysis. Time course crystallography and electron microscopy revealed conformational changes on GTP hydrolysis. OdinTubulin forms tubules at high temperatures, with short curved protofilaments coiling around the tubule circumference, more similar to FtsZ, rather than running parallel to its length, as in microtubules. Thus, OdinTubulin represents an evolutionary stage intermediate between prokaryotic FtsZ and eukaryotic microtubule-forming tubulins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caner Akıl
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Tokyo Institute of Technology, Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Samson Ali
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Linh T. Tran
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Jérémie Gaillard
- University of Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, CytoMorpho Lab, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Wenfei Li
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210093 Nanjing, China
| | - Kenichi Hayashida
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute (CeSPI), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Mika Hirose
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kato
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Atsunori Oshima
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute (CeSPI), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Department of Basic Medicinal Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
- Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Kosuke Fujishima
- Tokyo Institute of Technology, Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
- Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa 252-0882, Japan
| | - Laurent Blanchoin
- University of Grenoble-Alpes, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, CytoMorpho Lab, 38054 Grenoble, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, CEA, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, U 976, CytoMorpho Lab, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Akihiro Narita
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Robert C. Robinson
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
- School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering (BSE), Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Rayong 21210, Thailand
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12
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Da Cunha V, Gaïa M, Forterre P. The expanding Asgard archaea and their elusive relationships with Eukarya. MLIFE 2022; 1:3-12. [PMID: 38818326 PMCID: PMC10989751 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of Asgard archaea and the exploration of their diversity over the last 6 years have deeply impacted the scientific community working on eukaryogenesis, rejuvenating an intense debate on the topology of the universal tree of life (uTol). Here, we discuss how this debate is impacted by two recent publications that expand the number of Asgard lineages and eukaryotic signature proteins (ESPs). We discuss some of the main difficulties that can impair the phylogenetic reconstructions of the uTol and suggest that the debate about its topology is not settled. We notably hypothesize the existence of horizontal gene transfers between ancestral Asgards and proto-eukaryotes that could result in the observed abnormal behaviors of some Asgard ESPs and universal marker proteins. This hypothesis is relevant regardless of the scenario considered regarding eukaryogenesis. It implies that the Asgards were already diversified before the last eukaryotic common ancestor and shared the same biotopes with proto-eukaryotes. We suggest that some Asgards might be still living in symbiosis today with modern Eukarya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violette Da Cunha
- CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC)Université Paris‐SaclayGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Morgan Gaïa
- Génomique Métabolique, Génoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRSUniv. Evry, Université Paris‐SaclayEvryFrance
| | - Patrick Forterre
- CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC)Université Paris‐SaclayGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
- Département de Microbiologie, Institut PasteurParisFrance
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13
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Spang A, Mahendrarajah TA, Offre P, Stairs CW. Evolving perspective on the origin and diversification of cellular life and the virosphere. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6537539. [PMID: 35218347 PMCID: PMC9169541 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The tree of life (TOL) is a powerful framework to depict the evolutionary history of cellular organisms through time, from our microbial origins to the diversification of multicellular eukaryotes that shape the visible biosphere today. During the past decades, our perception of the TOL has fundamentally changed, in part, due to profound methodological advances, which allowed a more objective approach to studying organismal and viral diversity and led to the discovery of major new branches in the TOL as well as viral lineages. Phylogenetic and comparative genomics analyses of these data have, among others, revolutionized our understanding of the deep roots and diversity of microbial life, the origin of the eukaryotic cell, eukaryotic diversity, as well as the origin, and diversification of viruses. In this review, we provide an overview of some of the recent discoveries on the evolutionary history of cellular organisms and their viruses and discuss a variety of complementary techniques that we consider crucial for making further progress in our understanding of the TOL and its interconnection with the virosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Spang
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and 1790 AB Den Burg.,Department of Cell- and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden SE-75123, Uppsala
| | - Tara A Mahendrarajah
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and 1790 AB Den Burg
| | - Pierre Offre
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and 1790 AB Den Burg
| | - Courtney W Stairs
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund
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14
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Adam PS, Bornemann TLV, Probst AJ. Progress and Challenges in Studying the Ecophysiology of Archaea. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2522:469-486. [PMID: 36125771 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2445-6_32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
It has been less than two decades since the study of archaeal ecophysiology has become unshackled from the limitations of cultivation and amplicon sequencing through the advent of metagenomics. As a primer to the guide on producing archaeal genomes from metagenomes, we briefly summarize here how different meta'omics, imaging, and wet lab methods have contributed to progress in understanding the ecophysiology of Archaea. We then peer into the history of how our knowledge on two particularly important lineages was assembled: the anaerobic methane and alkane oxidizers, encountered primarily among Euryarchaeota, and the nanosized, mainly parasitic, members of the DPANN superphylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis S Adam
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany.
| | - Till L V Bornemann
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany.
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany.
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