Undinarchaeota illuminate DPANN phylogeny and the impact of gene transfer on archaeal evolution

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17408-w
• Publication Date: 2020-08-07T10:03:19Z
• Authors: Nina Dombrowski; Tom A. Williams; Jiarui Sun; Benjamin J. Woodc...; Jun-Hoe Lee; Bui Quang Minh; Christian Rinke; Anja Spang
• Keywords: Monophyly; Lineage (genetic); Horizontal Gene Transfer; Candidatus; Phylogenomics

Abstract The recently discovered DPANN archaea are a potentially deep-branching, monophyletic radiation of organisms with small cells and genomes. However, the monophyly early emergence various clades their role in life’s evolution debated. Here, we reconstructed analysed genomes an uncharacterized archaeal phylum ( Candidatus Undinarchaeota), revealing that its members have and, while being able to conserve energy through fermentation, likely depend on partner for acquisition certain metabolites. Our phylogenomic analyses robustly place Undinarchaeota as independent lineage between two highly supported ‘DPANN’ clans. Further, our suggest exchanged core genes hosts, adding difficulty placing tree life. This pattern can be sufficiently dominant allow identifying known symbiont-host based routes gene transfer. Together, work provides insights into origins hosts.