Project description
Investigating the protein origins of compartmentalisation in eukaryotes
Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles including the nucleus and mitochondria whereas prokaryotic cells do not. Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that the evolution of the first eukaryotic cells occurred by a merger between a cell intermediate between bacteria and eukaryotes (archaeal cell) and one or more bacterial endosymbionts. Building on their work pointing to the Asgard archaea as the original host lineage, the ERC-funded DARK-ROOTS project aims to shed light on the early stages of eukaryogenesis. The team plans to use AI-guided structural genomics to uncover new eukaryotic signature proteins in Asgard archaea and trace their evolution, focusing on similar proteins in eukaryotes important to their compartmentalisation.
Objective
The origin of the eukaryotic cell, with its complex and compartmentalized features, represents a prime hallmark in the evolution of life on Earth. Yet, important details underpinning the emergence of cellular complexity of eukaryotic cells remain thus far unresolved. Current views support evolutionary scenarios in which the first eukaryotic evolved via a merger between an archaeal host cell and one or more bacterial endosymbionts. Recent phylogenomic work from my lab has shown that the archaeal host cell evolved from within the Asgard archaea, an archaeal clade uniquely displaying several eukaryote-like features. However, key aspects regarding the nature and biology of the archaeal host cell remain elusive, limiting our current understanding of the early stages of eukaryogenesis. In DARK-ROOTS, my team will capitalize upon our unique position and foundational results, and use complementary approaches to elucidate the emergence of complex cellular features during eukaryogenesis. Firstly, building on encouraging preliminary results, we will use an advanced anaerobic cultivation infrastructure to enrich diverse Asgard archaeal lineages. Next, we will use high-resolution and live microscopy approaches to study their cellular ultrastructures and cell biological properties. Furthermore, we will monetize on recent breakthroughs in structural biology and use AI-guided structural genomics to uncover new eukaryotic signature proteins in Asgard archaea. Finally, we will trace the evolution of Asgard archaeal proteins, focusing on homologs of proteins that give stature to the complex and compartmentalized nature in eukaryotic cells. Altogether, building on a rich foundation of preliminary results, my group will bring new pieces of the enigmatic eukaryogenesis puzzle to the table by elucidating how intracellular complexity arose during the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2023-ADG
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6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands
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