Project description
Asgard archaea as a unique model for understanding the emergence of eukaryotic cells
The origin of the eukaryotic cell is one of the hallmarks of the evolution of life on Earth. The current hypothesis is that an archaeal host cell merged with an alphaproteobacterial (mitochondrial) endosymbiont, resulting in the first eukaryotic cell. Recent data point to a shared ancestry between the host cell and the Asgard archaea, which uniquely displays several eukaryotic features. However, many details about the nature of the archaeal host and the alleged mitochondrial endosymbiont remain elusive. The EU-funded PRO2EUK project aims to elucidate the emergence of eukaryotic cellular complexity. The research will provide insights into the genomic and biological identity and nature of Asgard archaea as well as the emergence of eukaryotic cells.
Objective
The origin of the eukaryotic cell, with its complex structural features, marks one of the prime hallmarks in the evolution of life on Earth. Still, the events that led to the emergence of cellular complexity in eukaryotic cells are a matter of hot debate. Current data supports scenarios in which an archaeal host cell and an alphaproteobacterial (mitochondrial) endosymbiont merged, triggering the emergence of the first eukaryotic cell. The host cell was recently shown to share a common ancestry with the Asgard archaea, an archaeal superphylum uniquely displaying a number of eukaryotic features. However, important details about the nature of the archaeal host and the presumed syntrophic interaction between this host and the alleged mitochondrial endosymbiont remain elusive, limiting our current understanding about the early stages of eukaryogenesis. In the current proposal, I aim to gain new insights in the emergence of eukaryotic cellular complexity by focusing on the newly discovered Asgard archaea. First, I will acquire and screen numerous environmental samples and employ state-of-the-art genome-resolved metagenomics approaches to lay out the diversity of the Asgard superphylum at the genomic level. By performing in-depth phylogenomic analyses of the newly generated genomic data, I will pinpoint the position of eukaryotes in the Tree of Life, and reconstruct the evolutionary history of eukaryotic genome content using advanced ancestral genome reconstruction algorithms. Next, I will develop in situ culturing and innovative cell extraction techniques that allow me to determine metabolic and syntrophic properties of Asgard archaeal cells, and to study their cells in ultra-high resolution. Altogether, the proposed research will provide novel insights into the genomic and cell-biological identity and nature of our closest prokaryotic relatives, and reveal, in more detail than ever before, the events that led to the emergence of complex cell types on Earth.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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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)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-COG
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6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands
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