Actin cytoskeleton and complex cell architecture in an Asgard archaeon.

ABSTRACT: Asgard archaea are considered to be the closest known relatives of eukaryotes. Their genomes contain hundreds of eukaryotic signature proteins (ESPs), which inspired hypotheses on the evolution of the eukaryotic cell^1-3. A role of ESPs in the formation of an elaborate cytoskeleton and complex cellular structures has been postulated^4-6, but never visualized. Here we describe a highly enriched culture of 'Candidatus Lokiarchaeum ossiferum', a member of the Asgard phylum, which thrives anaerobically at 20 °C on organic carbon sources. It divides every 7-14 days, reaches cell densities of up to 5 × 10⁷ cells per ml and has a significantly larger genome compared with the single previously cultivated Asgard strain⁷. ESPs represent 5% of its protein-cod

SUBMITTER: Rodrigues-Oliveira T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9834061 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature