Cited by 36Protist diversity and phylogenyMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyOrigins and Evolution of Life

Oxygen metabolism in descendants of the archaeal-eukaryotic ancestor

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Appler, Kathryn E., Lingford, James P., Gong, Xianzhe, Panagiotou, Kassiani, Leão, Pedro, Langwig, Marguerite V., Greening, Chris, Ettema, Thijs J. G. +2 more·2026·Nature

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Asgard archaea were pivotal in the origin of complex cellular life 1. Heimdallarchaeia (a class within the phylum Asgardarchaeota) are inferred to be the closest relatives of eukaryotes. Limited sampling of these archaea constrains our understanding of their ecology and evolution 2,3, including their role in eukaryogenesis. Here we use massive DNA sequencing of marine sediments to obtain 404 Asgardarchaeota metagenome-assembled genomes, including 136 new Heimdallarchaeia and several novel lineages. Analyses of their global distribution revealed they are widespread in marine environments, and many are enriched in variably oxygenated coastal sediments. Detailed metabolic reconstructions and structural predictions suggest that Heimdallarchaeia form metabolic guilds that are distinct from other Asgardarchaeota. These archaea encode hallmark proteins of an aerobic lifestyle, including electron transport chain complex (IV), haem biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species detoxification. Heimdallarchaeia also encode novel clades of respiratory membrane-bound hydrogenases with additional Complex I-like subunits, which potentially increase proton-motive force generation and ATP synthesis. Thus, we propose an updated Heimdallarchaeia-centric model of eukaryogenesis in which hydrogen production and aerobic respiration may have been present in the Asgard-eukaryotic ancestor. This expanded catalogue of Asgard archaeal genomic diversity suggests that bioenergetic factors influenced eukaryogenesis and constitutes a valuable resource for investigations into the origins and evolution of cellular complexity.

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Authors
Appler, K. E., Lingford, J. P., Gong, X., Panagiotou, K., Leão, P., Langwig, M. V., Greening, C., Ettema, T. J. G., De Anda, V., & Baker, B. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (US)
  • Monash University (AU)
  • Shandong University (CN)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
Baker, Brett J.
Venue
Nature
Published
2026-02-18
Volume
652
Issue
8109
Pages
405-415
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W7130454864
Cited by
36
References
151
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 1
FWCI
53.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protist diversity and phylogeny
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
Keywords
Asgard archaea, eukaryotic origin, oxygen metabolism, aerobic respiration, hydrogen production, heme biosynthesis, reactive oxygen species scavenging, marine sediment, metagenome-assembled genomes
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Aerobiosis, Archaea, Heme, Oxygen, Phylogeny, Reactive Oxygen Species, Geologic Sediments, Genome, Archaeal, Metagenome, Eukaryota

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