1. The Asgard archaeal ESCRT-III system forms helical filaments and remodels eukaryotic-like membranes.
- Author
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Melnikov, Nataly, Junglas, Benedikt, Halbi, Gal, Nachmias, Dikla, Zerbib, Erez, Gueta, Noam, Upcher, Alexander, Zalk, Ran, Sachse, Carsten, Bernheim-Groswasser, Anne, and Elia, Natalie
- Subjects
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LIFE sciences , *CYTOSKELETAL proteins , *HELICAL structure , *MEMBRANE proteins , *CELL division , *ARCHAEBACTERIA - Abstract
The ESCRT machinery mediates membrane remodeling in numerous processes in cells including cell division and nuclear membrane reformation. The identification of ESCRT homologs in Asgard archaea, currently considered the closest prokaryotic relative of eukaryotes, implies a role for ESCRTs in the membrane remodeling processes that occurred during eukaryogenesis. Yet, the function of these distant ESCRT homologs is mostly unresolved. Here we show that Asgard ESCRT-III proteins of the Lokiarcheota self-assemble into helical filaments, a hallmark of the ESCRT system. We determined the cryo-EM structure of the filaments at 3.6 Å resolution and found that they share features of bacterial and eukaryotic ESCRT-III assemblies. Markedly, Asgard ESCRT-III filaments bound and deformed eukaryotic-like membrane vesicles. Oligonucleotides facilitated the assembly of ESCRT-III filaments and tuned the extent of membrane remodeling. The ability of Asgard archaeal ESCRTs to remodel eukaryotic-like membranes, which are fundamentally different from archaeal membranes, and the structural properties of these proteins places them at the junction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Synopsis: This study shows that ESCRT-III proteins from the Asgard archaea superphylum assemble into homo- and hetero- polymers that can remodel eukaryotic-like membranes. The structural and functional properties of Asgard ESCRTs places them at the junction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Loki ESCRT-III proteins self-assemble into helical tube structures. The Loki ESCRT system is capable of remodeling eukaryotic-like membranes. High-resolution cryo-EM structures of the Loki ESCRT-III filament reveal characteristics specific to both bacterial and eukaryotic ESCRT systems. ESCRT-III proteins from the Asgard superphylum assemble into homo- and hetero- polymers bearing features of both bacterial and eukaryotic ESCRT systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2025
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