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Asgard Arf GTPases can act as membrane-associating molecular switches with the potential to function in organelle biogenesis

Author

Listed:
  • Jing Zhu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ruize Xie

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Qiaoying Ren

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jiaming Zhou

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Chen Chen

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Meng-Xi Xie

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • You Zhou

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Yan Zhang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ningjing Liu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jinchao Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Zhengwei Zhang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Xipeng Liu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Wupeng Yan

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Qingqiu Gong

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Liang Dong

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jinwei Zhu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine)

  • Fengping Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Zhiping Xie

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Abstract

Inward membrane budding, i.e., the bending of membrane towards the cytosol, is essential for forming and maintaining eukaryotic organelles. In eukaryotes, Arf GTPases initiate this inward budding. Our research shows that Asgard archaea genomes encode putative Arf proteins (AArfs). AArfs possess structural elements characteristic of their eukaryotic counterparts. When expressed in yeast and mammalian cells, some AArfs displayed GTP-dependent membrane targeting. In vitro, AArf associated with both eukaryotic and archaeal membranes. In yeast, AArfs interacted with and were regulated by key organelle biogenesis players. Expressing an AArf led to a massive proliferation of endomembrane organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. This AArf interacted with Sec23, a COPII vesicle coat component, in a GTP-dependent manner. These findings suggest certain AArfs are membrane-associating molecular switches with the functional potential to initiate organelle biogenesis, and the evolution of a functional coat could be the next critical step towards establishing eukaryotic cell architecture.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Zhu & Ruize Xie & Qiaoying Ren & Jiaming Zhou & Chen Chen & Meng-Xi Xie & You Zhou & Yan Zhang & Ningjing Liu & Jinchao Wang & Zhengwei Zhang & Xipeng Liu & Wupeng Yan & Qingqiu Gong & Liang Dong, 2025. "Asgard Arf GTPases can act as membrane-associating molecular switches with the potential to function in organelle biogenesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57902-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57902-7
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