A study of microbes in Shark Bay, Australia, reveals physical interactions between archaea and bacteria, providing a potential model for the evolution of complex eukaryotic cells.
Key facts
- •Stromatolites are ancient, layered microbial communities that helped release early oxygen into Earth's atmosphere.
- •Asgard archaea are considered closely related to the ancestors of eukaryotes, the cells that form all plants and animals.
- •The study provides the first visual evidence of an Asgard archaeon interacting with a bacterium through nanotubes.
- •Researchers used electron cryotomography to image the microbes at a scale of a millionth of a millimeter.
- •The research involved a collaboration between UNSW Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney, and The University of Melbourne.
Researchers have identified a previously unknown microbe, Nerearchaeum marumarumayae, living within ancient microbial structures called stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The study, published in Current Biology, provides the first visual evidence of an Asgard archaeon interacting with a bacterium via thin, tube-like connections. This discovery offers a potential model for how early, simple cells may have formed the partnerships that eventually led to the development of complex eukaryotic life.
Visualizing Ancient Cellular Partnerships
Scientists used electron cryotomography to observe the physical connection between the archaeon and the bacterium. The images revealed the organisms linked by bacterial nanotubes, with the archaeon also producing budded vesicles and tube-like structures. The microbes appear to exchange chemical compounds, including vitamins, nutrients, and hydrogen, suggesting a mutually beneficial relationship.
Challenges in Laboratory Cultivation
The research team spent four to five years attempting to grow the microbes in a laboratory setting. They were unable to cultivate the organisms in pure culture, which researchers believe indicates that the microbes are dependent on other organisms for survival. To further their analysis, the team utilized deep learning to predict the structures of proteins within the microbes, identifying ancient versions of cellular machinery.
Naming and Cultural Collaboration
The newly identified archaeon, Nerearchaeum marumarumayae, was named in consultation with Malgana elders and language expert Kymberly Oakley. The name combines a reference to the Greek sea god Nereus with the Malgana word for 'ancient home.' This collaboration recognizes the cultural heritage of Shark Bay, where Indigenous people have lived for approximately 30,000 years.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
