The archaeal KEOPS complex possesses a functional Gon7 homolog and has an essential function independent of cellular t6A modification level

KEOPS is a multi-subunit protein complex conserved in eukaryotes and archaea. It is composed of Pcc1, Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121, and Gon7 in eukaryotes and is primarily involved in N6-threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (t6A) modification of tRNAs. Recently, KEOPS is reported to participate in homologous recombination repair in yeast. To characterize the KEOPS in archaea (aKEOPS), we conducted genetic and biochemical analyses of its encoding genes in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Saccharolobus islandicus . We show that aKEOPS also possesses five subunits, Pcc1, Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121, and Pcc1-like (or Gon7-like), just as eukaryotic KEOPS. Pcc1-like has physical interactions with Kae1 and Pcc1 and can mediate the monomerization of the dimeric subcomplex (Kae1-Pcc1-Pcc1-Kae1), suggesting that Pcc1-like is a functional homolog of the eukaryotic Gon7 subunit. Strikingly, none of the genes encoding aKEOPS subunits, including Pcc1 and Pcc1-like, can be deleted in the wild type and in a t6A modification complementary strain named TsaKI, implying that aKEOPS complex is essential for an additional cellular process in this archaeon. Knock-down of the Cgi121 subunit leads to severe growth retardance in the wild type which is partially rescued in TsaKI. These results suggest that aKEOPS plays an essential role independent of cellular t6A modification level. In addition, archaeal Cgi121 possesses dsDNA-binding activity which relies on its tRNA 3’ CCA tail binding module. Our study clarifies the subunit organization of archaeal KEOPS and suggests of an origin of eukaryotic Gon7. The study also reveals a possible link between the function in t6A modification and the additional function presumably homologous recombination. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.