Characterization of ESCRTs proteins encoded by Asgard archaea highlights evolutionary conserved features of the ESCRT-III complex

Conserved from archaea to mammals, the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) constitutes one of the most versatile cellular machinery for membrane remodeling across evolution. Recently, genes encoding for ESCRT proteins have been found in Asgard archaea: a newly discovered superphylum that, according to current evolutionary theories, is the closest archaeal relative to eukaryotes. Interestingly, Asgard-ESCRT homologs were recently found to partly compensate for the loss of the equivalent proteins in yeast raising the possibility that these ancient Asgard-ESCRT proteins can interact with their eukaryotic counterparts. To test this notion, we have invesigated the biochemical and cellular characteristics of ESCRTs derived from different Asgard archaea species in mammalian cells. Our data point to potential interactions and functional similarities between specific mammalian and Asgard ESCRTs and highlight new, evolutionary conserved, functions for the ESCRT. This study provides the first characterization of ancient ESCRT proteins in the cellular milieu and facilitates new models for the role of this versatile membrane remodeling machine across evolution.