Archaea functional evolution and eukaryogenesis

<p indent="0mm">The origin of eukaryotes represents a pivotal evolutionary milestone in Earth’s history and stands as one of the most profound mysteries in biological sciences. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a closer kinship between eukaryotes and archaea than with bacteria, suggesting a likely archaeal origin for eukaryotes. This archaea-eukaryote affinity is also underscored by shared similar genetic information transfer systems. Recent discoveries of novel archaeal lineages have shed significant light on the functional evolution that may have bridged archaea to eukaryotes. This review synthesizes the latest advancements in our understanding of archaeal functional evolution from four critical perspectives: the diversity and metabolic mechanisms of archaea, the genetic information transfer system, the eukaryotic-like intracellular membrane machinery, and the composition of cellular membrane lipids. Our aim is to elucidate the origins of eukaryotes and to explore the implications of this research for the advancement of biological sciences.