Ecological drivers of Promethearchaeati’s specialization for deep subsurface environments
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Promethearchaeati, a recently discovered kingdom of archaea, shares striking similarities with eukaryotes, including genes for cellular complexity previously thought unique to eukaryotes. Despite these features, Promethearchaeati thrive almost exclusively in stable subsurface environments, unlike their eukaryotic relatives that thrive on Earth's surface. Here we explore why these microbes remain confined to the subsurface, examining their slow growth, fragile cellular structures, and dependence on microbial partners. We discuss how their eukaryotic-like traits might function in subsurface ecosystems and why these traits may be selective in these types of ecosystems.
Source: Communications Biology
Authors: Lovell Smith, Karen G. Lloyd
Institution: University of Southern California
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,190
OpenAlex ID: W7151002455