The role of archaea in the origin of eukaryotes

Abstract

A key role of particular evolutionary branch of archaea in the emergence of eukaryotic cell is considered on the basis of phylogenomics. Genomes of recently discovered uncultivated proteoarchaea belonging to Lokiarchaea and Asgard-group contain a large sets of eukaryotic-like genes. This allows to suggest that ancient forms of such archaean could participate in symbiotic fusion with bacteria serving as a mitochondrial progenitor. The open questions concerning properties of LECA (so-called last eukaryotic common ancestor) are discussed in the frame of endosymbiotic hypothesis of eukaryogenesis.

Keywords

evolution / phylogeny / archaea / origin of eukaryotes / comparative genomics

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Shestakov S.V.