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In addition, it is possible that Asgard archaea and the last archaeal ancestor of eukaryotes carry primitive endomembrane systems.

Archaea such as Ignicoccus hospitalis, along with several types of bacterium, have independently evolved endomembrane systems11.

It is therefore feasible that Asgard archaeal cells produce sufficient energy to harbour both a primitive endomembrane system and undergo actin-driven membrane and cell-shape deformation.

The uncoupling of energy production from the host cell’s external membrane to the mitochondrial inner membrane as well as the increase of energy availability allowed the increase in cell size and volume50, and evolution of more complex and energy-demanding cellular structures, including sophisticated endomembrane systems, the nucleus and fully-fledged endocytic and phagocytic machineries.