RESEARCH BRIEFINGS

28 October 2026

Two archaeal strains that belong to a lineage closely related to the ancestor of eukaryotic cells (complex cells with membrane-bound organelles) have been brought into culture. Their simple internal organization, elaborate surface structures, microbial partnerships and protein-dependent lifestyle provide clues about how eukaryotic cells arose.

This is a summary of: Imachi, H. et al . Eukaryotes’ closest relatives are internally simple syntrophic peptidotrophic archaea. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-11170-7 (2026) .

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03294-7

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