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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.07.01.601590

Evolutionarily conserved principles of ESCRT-III-mediated membrane remodelling revealed by a two-subunit Asgard archaeal system

Souza, D. P.·Espadas, J.·Chaaban, S.·Moody, E. R. R.·Hatano, T.·Balasubramanian, M.·Williams, T. A.·Roux, A.·Baum, B.
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Abstract

ESCRT-III proteins assemble into composite polymers that undergo stepwise changes in composition and structure to deform membranes across the tree of life. Here, using a phylogenetic analysis we demonstrate that the two ESCRT-III proteins present in our closest archaeal relatives are evolutionarily related to B-type and A-type eukaryotic paralogues, which initiate and execute membrane remodelling, respectively. This deep homology is reflected in ESCRT-III structure and function as demonstrated by the fact that ESCRT-IIIB assembles into parallel arrays on planar membranes to initiate membrane deformation, and is required to recruit ESCRT-IIIA to generate composite polymers. ESCRT-IIIA homopolymers can then remodel membranes into tubes, as a likely prelude to scission. Taken together, this analysis reveals a set of conserved principles governing ESCRT-III-dependent membrane remodelling that first emerged with the evolution of a two-component ESCRT-III system in the Asgard archaea, and which continue to underlie complex multi-component, ESCRT-III-dependent membrane remodelling in eukaryotes.

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Souza, D. P., Espadas, J., Chaaban, S., Moody, E. R. R., Hatano, T., Balasubramanian, M., Williams, T. A., Roux, A., Baum, B.. 2024-07-02. Evolutionarily conserved principles of ESCRT-III-mediated membrane remodelling revealed by a two-subunit Asgard archaeal system. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.01.601590

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