EMBL Researchers Unravel the Mysteries of Archaea: Insights into Evolution, Adaptability, and Ecosystem Health
EMBL researchers are deeply engaged in investigating archaea, a group of understudied microorganisms, to address fundamental questions concerning evolution, adaptability, and other critical biological phenomena. Distinguished from bacteria in the 1970s, archaea are renowned for their ability to thrive in remarkably diverse and often extreme environments.
Archaea are known for thriving in diverse, often extreme, environments such as deep-sea vents, oxygen-depleted sediments, and polar tundras, as well as on human skin and in everyday environments.
Several EMBL research groups are dedicated to advancing our understanding of these fascinating microorganisms.
Asgard Archaea and Eukaryotic Evolution
Florian Wollweber at EMBL Grenoble is delving into the cell biology of Asgard archaea, a group considered closely related to eukaryotes. His pioneering work, utilizing cryo-electron tomography, has unveiled that these slow-growing cells possess complex cell shapes and intricate internal structures. These features bear a striking resemblance to eukaryotic 'skeletons', suggesting that such cellular complexities may have existed even prior to the emergence of eukaryotic cells. His group's overarching goal is to reconstruct the evolutionary events that led to the origin of eukaryotes.
The research group of Svetlana Dodonova at EMBL Heidelberg focuses on the structural biology of chromatin in archaea. Their significant contributions in 2025 included presenting the first structures of Asgard archaea and their DNA packaging mechanism, known as chromatin. They identified a specific histone capable of forming both super compact and super open assemblies, with the open configuration closely mirroring eukaryotic chromatin. This finding highlights a potential evolutionary link between Asgard archaea and eukaryotes. Beyond Asgard archaea, the group also investigates extremophilic archaea like Thermococcus kodakarensis and Haloferax volcanii to gain insights into chromatin function and regulation under harsh conditions.
Archaea for Bioremediation and Ecosystem Health
Kiley Seitz, a soil microbiologist working in Peer Bork's group at EMBL Heidelberg, identifies archaea as promising candidates for bioremediation. This is primarily due to their non-pathogenic nature and greater predictability compared to bacteria. She employs metagenomics to meticulously analyze archaeal genes and pathways within microbial communities, drawing comparisons between healthy and unhealthy ecosystems.
Seitz is particularly intrigued by archaea's metabolic flexibility and their capacity for mutualistic interactions, emphasizing their inherent ability to adapt to changing environments.
Research also indicates archaea live on human skin, assisting in ammonia removal and nitrate addition.
Extremophilic Archaea and Clues to Early Life
Federico Vignale, a postdoctoral fellow at EMBL Hamburg, is a key member of Maria Garcia Alai's team, which studies extremophilic archaea in the Central Andes. This arid, mineral-rich region, situated 5,000 meters above sea level, offers environmental conditions strikingly similar to those of early Earth. Such a unique setting provides invaluable insights into the evolution of life on our planet and even potential extraterrestrial life.
The Central Andes presents conditions similar to early Earth, offering insights into the evolution of life and potential extraterrestrial life.
The team collects samples from highly saline lakes, such as Laguna Diamante, which teem with abundant and diverse archaea. These archaea have evolved specialized protective pigments to cope with the low oxygen levels, intense solar radiation, and high concentrations of minerals like arsenic and lithium prevalent in the region. Their discoveries include Halorubrum archaea dominating biofilms on volcanic rocks and complex microbial mats exhibiting distinct layered structures. The research involves recreating 'microcosms' in the laboratory and employing advanced proteomic and culturomic analyses to study archaeal adaptation mechanisms. Vignale underscores the delicate nature of these unique ecosystems, pointing out significant threats from lithium mining and tourism, and stresses the paramount importance of their study and protection in collaborative efforts with indigenous communities.