Evolution of optimal growth temperature in Asgard archaea inferred from the temperature dependence of GDP binding to EF-1A

Zhongyi Lu, Runyue Xia, Siyu Zhang, Jie Pan, Yang Liu, Yuri I. Wolf, Eugene V. Koonin and Meng Li ()
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Zhongyi Lu: Shenzhen University
Runyue Xia: Shenzhen University
Siyu Zhang: Shenzhen University
Jie Pan: Shenzhen University
Yang Liu: Shenzhen University
Yuri I. Wolf: National Library of Medicine
Eugene V. Koonin: National Library of Medicine
Meng Li: Shenzhen University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The archaeal ancestor of eukaryotes apparently belonged to the phylum Asgardarchaeota, but the ecology and evolution of Asgard archaea are poorly understood. The optimal GDP-binding temperature of a translation elongation factor (EF-1A or EF-Tu) has been previously shown to correlate with the optimal growth temperature of diverse prokaryotes. Here, we reconstruct ancestral EF-1A sequences and experimentally measure the optimal GDP-binding temperature of EF-1A from ancient and extant Asgard archaea, to infer the evolution of optimal growth temperatures in Asgardarchaeota. Our results suggest that the Asgard ancestor of eukaryotes was a moderate thermophile, with an optimal growth temperature around 53 °C. The origin of eukaryotes appears to coincide with a transition from thermophilic to mesophilic lifestyle during the evolution of Asgard archaea.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44806-1

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