1
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Goldman AD, Weber JM, LaRowe DE, Barge LM. Electron transport chains as a window into the earliest stages of evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2210924120. [PMID: 37579147 PMCID: PMC10451490 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210924120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The origin and early evolution of life is generally studied under two different paradigms: bottom up and top down. Prebiotic chemistry and early Earth geochemistry allow researchers to explore possible origin of life scenarios. But for these "bottom-up" approaches, even successful experiments only amount to a proof of principle. On the other hand, "top-down" research on early evolutionary history is able to provide a historical account about ancient organisms, but is unable to investigate stages that occurred during and just after the origin of life. Here, we consider ancient electron transport chains (ETCs) as a potential bridge between early evolutionary history and a protocellular stage that preceded it. Current phylogenetic evidence suggests that ancestors of several extant ETC components were present at least as late as the last universal common ancestor of life. In addition, recent experiments have shown that some aspects of modern ETCs can be replicated by minerals, protocells, or organic cofactors in the absence of biological proteins. Here, we discuss the diversity of ETCs and other forms of chemiosmotic energy conservation, describe current work on the early evolution of membrane bioenergetics, and advocate for several lines of research to enhance this understanding by pairing top-down and bottom-up approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D. Goldman
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH44074
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA98154
| | - Jessica M. Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91109
| | - Douglas E. LaRowe
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Laura M. Barge
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA98154
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91109
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2
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Goldman AD, Kaçar B. Very early evolution from the perspective of microbial ecology. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:5-10. [PMID: 35944516 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The universal ancestor at the root of the species tree of life depicts a population of organisms with a surprising degree of complexity, posessing genomes and translation systems much like that of microbial life today. As the first life forms were most likely to have been simple replicators, considerable evolutionary change must have taken place prior to the last universal common ancestor. It is often assumed that the lack of earlier branches on the tree of life is due to a prevalence of random horizontal gene transfer that obscured the delineations between lineages and hindered their divergence. Therefore, principles of microbial evolution and ecology may give us some insight into these early stages in the history of life. Here, we synthesize the current understanding of organismal and genome evolution from the perspective of microbial ecology and apply these evolutionary principles to the earliest stages of life on Earth. We focus especially on broad evolutionary modes pertaining to horizontal gene transfer, pangenome structure, and microbial mat communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Goldman
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College and Conservatory, Oberlin, Ohio, USA
| | - Betül Kaçar
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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3
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Forster AC. Revisiting the Extinction of the RNA World. Biochemistry 2022; 61:749-751. [PMID: 35389627 PMCID: PMC9069686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The ribozyme world
is thought to have evolved the burdensome complexity
of peptide and protein synthesis because the 20 amino acid side chains
are catalytically superior. Instead, I propose that the Achilles heel
of the RNA world that led to the extinction of riboorganisms was RNA’s
polyanionic charges that could not be covalently neutralized stably
by phosphotriester formation. These charges prevented development
of hydrophobic cores essential for integration into membranes and
many enzymatic reactions. In contrast, the phosphotriester modification
of DNA is stable. So, the fact that the charge was never removed in
DNA evolution gives further credence to proteins coming before DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Forster
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 596, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
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4
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Long MJC, Ly P, Aye Y. Still no Rest for the Reductases: Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR) Structure and Function: An Update. Subcell Biochem 2022; 99:155-197. [PMID: 36151376 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-00793-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Herein we present a multidisciplinary discussion of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), the essential enzyme uniquely responsible for conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides. This chapter primarily presents an overview of this multifaceted and complex enzyme, covering RNR's role in enzymology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and cell biology. It further focuses on RNR from mammals, whose interesting and often conflicting roles in health and disease are coming more into focus. We present pitfalls that we think have not always been dealt with by researchers in each area and further seek to unite some of the field-specific observations surrounding this enzyme. Our work is thus not intended to cover any one topic in extreme detail, but rather give what we consider to be the necessary broad grounding to understand this critical enzyme holistically. Although this is an approach we have advocated in many different areas of scientific research, there is arguably no other single enzyme that embodies the need for such broad study than RNR. Thus, we submit that RNR itself is a paradigm of interdisciplinary research that is of interest from the perspective of the generalist and the specialist alike. We hope that the discussions herein will thus be helpful to not only those wanting to tackle RNR-specific problems, but also those working on similar interdisciplinary projects centering around other enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J C Long
- University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Biochemistry, UNIL, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Phillippe Ly
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- EPFL SB ISIC LEAGO, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- EPFL SB ISIC LEAGO, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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5
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Yukawa K, Mizuuchi R, Ichihashi N. Relaxed Substrate Specificity in Qβ Replicase through Long-Term In Vitro Evolution. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 12:life12010032. [PMID: 35054425 PMCID: PMC8778257 DOI: 10.3390/life12010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A change from RNA- to DNA-based genetic systems is hypothesized as a major transition in the evolution of early life forms. One of the possible requirements for this transition is a change in the substrate specificity of the replication enzyme. It is largely unknown how such changes would have occurred during early evolutionary history. In this study, we present evidence that an RNA replication enzyme that has evolved in the absence of deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) relaxes its substrate specificity and incorporates labeled dNTPs. This result implies that ancient replication enzymes, which probably evolved in the absence of dNTPs, could have incorporated dNTPs to synthesize DNA soon after dNTPs became available. The transition from RNA to DNA, therefore, might have been easier than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohtoh Yukawa
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan;
| | - Ryo Mizuuchi
- JST, PRESTO, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan;
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Norikazu Ichihashi
- Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan;
- Komaba Institute for Science, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- Correspondence:
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6
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Wang Z, Liu J, Zhang Y, Qi J, Han X, Zhao X, Bai D, Zhao H, Chen Q. Intrinsic Contributions of 2'-Hydroxyl to the Hydration of Nucleosides at the Monomeric Level. Chemistry 2020; 26:17046-17055. [PMID: 32786015 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202002835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Although many reports have revealed structural differences between DNA and RNA at the polymeric level, there are no comparative studies with 2'-deoxyribonucleoside and ribonucleoside to explore the role of the 2'-OH group at the monomeric level under the same conditions. Inspired by this, herein, the intrinsic contributions of the 2'-OH group in the nucleoside have been systematically investigated by directly solving the single-crystal structures of 2'-deoxy-2-aminoadenosine (1), 2-aminoadenosine (2), and 2-aminoarabinofuranosyladenine (3) in water. The 2'-OH group not only influenced the conformation and base-pair pattern of the single-nucleoside molecule, but also played a fundamental role in the entire supramolecular structure. Interestingly, compound 1, which did not contain the 2'-OH group, displayed strong hydration, whereas 2 and 3 (with the 2'-OH group in the opposite direction) exhibited no hydration, which was completely different from that observed in nucleic acids. Meanwhile, compound 1 trapped water molecules to form unique trihydrol moieties, which further served as the backbone to construct the simplest double-chain DNA-like structures. To this end, to investigate the effect of the biological environment on these unique structures, the solvent was changed from water to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Surprisingly, such a subtle adjustment led to entirely different superstructures, consisting of 2D lamellar structures in water and 3D porous structures in PBS. These large morphological differences could be attributed to delicate ion hydration, which was also confirmed through variable-temperature X-ray analysis, SEM, and intermolecular interaction energy calculations. In summary, this study comprehensively investigated the intrinsic contributions of 2'-hydroxyl to the hydration of nucleosides at the monomeric level; this is helpful to further understand the differences in DNA/RNA and the impact of their surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Jiajia Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xianglong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xuefeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Ding Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Hang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Qianming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical, Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China, Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, P.R. China
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7
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Muchowska KB, Varma SJ, Moran J. Nonenzymatic Metabolic Reactions and Life's Origins. Chem Rev 2020; 120:7708-7744. [PMID: 32687326 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prebiotic chemistry aims to explain how the biochemistry of life as we know it came to be. Most efforts in this area have focused on provisioning compounds of importance to life by multistep synthetic routes that do not resemble biochemistry. However, gaining insight into why core metabolism uses the molecules, reactions, pathways, and overall organization that it does requires us to consider molecules not only as synthetic end goals. Equally important are the dynamic processes that build them up and break them down. This perspective has led many researchers to the hypothesis that the first stage of the origin of life began with the onset of a primitive nonenzymatic version of metabolism, initially catalyzed by naturally occurring minerals and metal ions. This view of life's origins has come to be known as "metabolism first". Continuity with modern metabolism would require a primitive version of metabolism to build and break down ketoacids, sugars, amino acids, and ribonucleotides in much the same way as the pathways that do it today. This review discusses metabolic pathways of relevance to the origin of life in a manner accessible to chemists, and summarizes experiments suggesting several pathways might have their roots in prebiotic chemistry. Finally, key remaining milestones for the protometabolic hypothesis are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sreejith J Varma
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Joseph Moran
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, ISIS UMR 7006, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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8
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Longo LM, Despotović D, Weil-Ktorza O, Walker MJ, Jabłońska J, Fridmann-Sirkis Y, Varani G, Metanis N, Tawfik DS. Primordial emergence of a nucleic acid-binding protein via phase separation and statistical ornithine-to-arginine conversion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:15731-15739. [PMID: 32561643 PMCID: PMC7355028 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001989117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
De novo emergence demands a transition from disordered polypeptides into structured proteins with well-defined functions. However, can polypeptides confer functions of evolutionary relevance, and how might such polypeptides evolve into modern proteins? The earliest proteins present an even greater challenge, as they were likely based on abiotic, spontaneously synthesized amino acids. Here we asked whether a primordial function, such as nucleic acid binding, could emerge with ornithine, a basic amino acid that forms abiotically yet is absent in modern-day proteins. We combined ancestral sequence reconstruction and empiric deconstruction to unravel a gradual evolutionary trajectory leading from a polypeptide to a ubiquitous nucleic acid-binding protein. Intermediates along this trajectory comprise sequence-duplicated functional proteins built from 10 amino acid types, with ornithine as the only basic amino acid. Ornithine side chains were further modified into arginine by an abiotic chemical reaction, improving both structure and function. Along this trajectory, function evolved from phase separation with RNA (coacervates) to avid and specific double-stranded DNA binding. Our results suggest that phase-separating polypeptides may have been an evolutionary resource for the emergence of early proteins, and that ornithine, together with its postsynthesis modification to arginine, could have been the earliest basic amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam M Longo
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Dragana Despotović
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Orit Weil-Ktorza
- Institute of Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Matthew J Walker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Jagoda Jabłońska
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yael Fridmann-Sirkis
- Life Sciences Core Facility, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gabriele Varani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - Norman Metanis
- Institute of Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel;
| | - Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
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9
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Liberles DA, Chang B, Geiler-Samerotte K, Goldman A, Hey J, Kaçar B, Meyer M, Murphy W, Posada D, Storfer A. Emerging Frontiers in the Study of Molecular Evolution. J Mol Evol 2020; 88:211-226. [PMID: 32060574 PMCID: PMC7386396 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-020-09932-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A collection of the editors of Journal of Molecular Evolution have gotten together to pose a set of key challenges and future directions for the field of molecular evolution. Topics include challenges and new directions in prebiotic chemistry and the RNA world, reconstruction of early cellular genomes and proteins, macromolecular and functional evolution, evolutionary cell biology, genome evolution, molecular evolutionary ecology, viral phylodynamics, theoretical population genomics, somatic cell molecular evolution, and directed evolution. While our effort is not meant to be exhaustive, it reflects research questions and problems in the field of molecular evolution that are exciting to our editors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Liberles
- Department of Biology and Center for Computational Genetics and Genomics, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
| | - Belinda Chang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G5, Canada
| | - Kerry Geiler-Samerotte
- Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Aaron Goldman
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College and Conservatory, K123 Science Center, 119 Woodland Street, Oberlin, OH, 44074, USA
| | - Jody Hey
- Department of Biology and Center for Computational Genetics and Genomics, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Betül Kaçar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Michelle Meyer
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA
| | - William Murphy
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - David Posada
- Biomedical Research Center (CINBIO), University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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10
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Abstract
The central dogma of molecular biology rests on two kinds of asymmetry between genomes and enzymes: informatic asymmetry, where information flows from genomes to enzymes but not from enzymes to genomes; and catalytic asymmetry, where enzymes provide chemical catalysis but genomes do not. How did these asymmetries originate? Here, we show that these asymmetries can spontaneously arise from conflict between selection at the molecular level and selection at the cellular level. We developed a model consisting of a population of protocells, each containing a population of replicating catalytic molecules. The molecules are assumed to face a trade-off between serving as catalysts and serving as templates. This trade-off causes conflicting multilevel selection: serving as catalysts is favoured by selection between protocells, whereas serving as templates is favoured by selection between molecules within protocells. This conflict induces informatic and catalytic symmetry breaking, whereby the molecules differentiate into genomes and enzymes, establishing the central dogma. We show mathematically that the symmetry breaking is caused by a positive feedback between Fisher’s reproductive values and the relative impact of selection at different levels. This feedback induces a division of labour between genomes and enzymes, provided variation at the molecular level is sufficiently large relative to variation at the cellular level, a condition that is expected to hinder the evolution of altruism. Taken together, our results suggest that the central dogma is a logical consequence of conflicting multilevel selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuto Takeuchi
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.,School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kunihiko Kaneko
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.,Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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11
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Lyu S, Beiranvand N, Freindorf M, Kraka E. Interplay of Ring Puckering and Hydrogen Bonding in Deoxyribonucleosides. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:7087-7103. [PMID: 31323178 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b05452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Cremer-Pople ring puckering analysis and the Konkoli-Cremer local mode analysis supported by the topological analysis of the electron density were applied for the first comprehensive analysis of the interplay between deoxyribose ring puckering and intramolecular H-bonding in 2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, 2'-deoxythymidine, and 2'-deoxyguanosine. We mapped for each deoxyribonucleoside the complete conformational energy surface and the corresponding pseudorotation path. We found only incomplete pseudorotation cycles, caused by ring inversion, which we coined as pseudolibration paths. On each pseudolibration path a global and a local minimum separated by a transition state were identified. The investigation of H-bond free deoxyribonucleoside analogs revealed that removal of the H-bond does not restore the full conformational flexibility of the sugar ring. Our work showed that ring puckering predominantly determines the conformational energy; the larger the puckering amplitude, the lower the conformational energy. In contrast no direct correlation between conformational energy and H-bond strength was found. The longest and weakest H-bonds are located in the local minimum region, whereas the shortest and strongest H-bonds are located outside the global and local minimum regions at the turning points of the pseudolibration paths, i.e., H-bonding determines the shape and length of the pseudolibration paths. In addition to the H-bond strength, we evaluated the covalent/electrostatic character of the H-bonds applying the Cremer-Kraka criterion of covalent bonding. H-bonding in the puric bases has a more covalent character whereas in the pyrimidic bases the H-bond character is more electrostatic. We investigated how the mutual orientation of the CH2OH group and the base influences H-bond formation via two geometrical parameters describing the rotation of the substituents perpendicular to the sugar ring and their tilting relative to the ring center. According to our results, rotation is more important for H-bond formation. In addition we assessed the influence of the H-bond acceptor, the lone pair (N, respectively O), via the delocalization energy. We found larger delocalization energies corresponding to stronger H-bonds for the puric bases. The global minimum conformation of 2'-deoxyguanosine has the strongest H-bond of all conformers investigated in this work with a bond strength of 0.436 which is even stronger than the H-bond in the water dimer (0.360). The application of our new analysis to DNA deoxyribonucleotides and to unnatural base pairs, which have recently drawn a lot of attention, is in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siying Lyu
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry , Southern Methodist University , 3215 Daniel Ave , Dallas , Texas 75275-0314 , United States
| | - Nassim Beiranvand
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry , Southern Methodist University , 3215 Daniel Ave , Dallas , Texas 75275-0314 , United States
| | - Marek Freindorf
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry , Southern Methodist University , 3215 Daniel Ave , Dallas , Texas 75275-0314 , United States
| | - Elfi Kraka
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry , Southern Methodist University , 3215 Daniel Ave , Dallas , Texas 75275-0314 , United States
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12
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Palacios-Pérez M, José MV. The evolution of proteome: From the primeval to the very dawn of LUCA. Biosystems 2019; 181:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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13
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Zhao Q, Yang W, Qin T, Huang Z. Moonlighting Phosphatase Activity of Klenow DNA Polymerase in the Presence of RNA. Biochemistry 2018; 57:5127-5135. [PMID: 30059615 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
RNA is a key player in the cellular central dogma, including RNA transcription and protein synthesis. However, it is unknown whether RNA can directly interfere with DNA synthesis. Recently, we have found in vitro that while binding to DNA polymerase nonspecifically, RNA can transform DNA polymerase to display a moonlighting activity, dNTP phosphatase, in turn interfering with DNA synthesis. This phosphatase activity removes the γ-phosphate from dNTPs (generating dNDPs) and subsequently removes the β-phosphate from the formed dNDPs (generating dNMPs), confirmed by the noncleavable α,β-CH2-dGTP and β,γ-CH2-dGTP analogues. We also found that dGTP is the best substrate for the phosphatase, and the dNTP phosphatase activity is sensitive to the reaction medium. In addition, we have revealed that RNA can tune the activity of closely related proteins and give rise to new catalytic functions with subtle differences. Moreover, we have demonstrated in vitro that at the lower dNTP level, this phosphatase can directly inhibit DNA synthesis by dNTP depletion, though the phosphatase activity is 690-fold slower than the polymerase activity. Our observation in vitro suggests a plausible strategy for RNA to directly interfere with DNA polymerase and DNA synthesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwei Zhao
- College of Life Sciences , Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Wen Yang
- College of Life Sciences , Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Tong Qin
- College of Life Sciences , Sichuan University , Chengdu , China
| | - Zhen Huang
- College of Life Sciences , Sichuan University , Chengdu , China.,Department of Chemistry , Georgia State University , Atlanta , Georgia 30303 , United States
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14
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Kumar VA. Evolution of specific 3'-5'-linkages in RNA in pre-biotic soup: a new hypothesis. Org Biomol Chem 2018; 14:10123-10133. [PMID: 27714238 DOI: 10.1039/c6ob01796g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the different possibilities towards progression of the formation of DNA/RNA in the chemical world, before life, in enzyme-free conditions. The advent of deoxyribo- and ribopentose-sugars, nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides in the prebiotic soup is briefly discussed. Further, the formation of early single stranded oligomers, base-pairing possibilities and information transfer based on the stability parameters of the derived duplexes is reviewed. Each theory has its own merits and demerits which we have elaborated upon. Lastly, using clues from this literature, a possible explanation for the specific 3'-5'-linkages in RNA is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaijayanti A Kumar
- Organic Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
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Ryzhkova EP. Alternative enzymes as a special strategy for the adaptation of procaryotic organisms (Review). APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683817050131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Gavette JV, Stoop M, Hud NV, Krishnamurthy R. RNA-DNA Chimeras in the Context of an RNA World Transition to an RNA/DNA World. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201607919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse V. Gavette
- Department of Chemistry; The Scripps Research Institute; 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Matthias Stoop
- Department of Chemistry; The Scripps Research Institute; 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Nicholas V. Hud
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry; The Scripps Research Institute; 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
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Gavette JV, Stoop M, Hud NV, Krishnamurthy R. RNA-DNA Chimeras in the Context of an RNA World Transition to an RNA/DNA World. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:13204-13209. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201607919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse V. Gavette
- Department of Chemistry; The Scripps Research Institute; 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Matthias Stoop
- Department of Chemistry; The Scripps Research Institute; 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Nicholas V. Hud
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry; The Scripps Research Institute; 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution; Atlanta GA 30332 USA
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Ma W, Yu C, Zhang W, Wu S, Feng Y. The emergence of DNA in the RNA world: an in silico simulation study of genetic takeover. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:272. [PMID: 26643199 PMCID: PMC4672488 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0548-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is now popularly accepted that there was an "RNA world" in early evolution of life. This idea has a direct consequence that later on there should have been a takeover of genetic material - RNA by DNA. However, since genetic material carries genetic information, the "source code" of all living activities, it is actually reasonable to question the plausibility of such a "revolutionary" transition. Due to our inability to model relevant "primitive living systems" in reality, it is as yet impossible to explore the plausibility and mechanisms of the "genetic takeover" by experiments. RESULTS Here we investigated this issue by computer simulation using a Monte-Carlo method. It shows that an RNA-by-DNA genetic takeover may be triggered by the emergence of a nucleotide reductase ribozyme with a moderate activity in a pure RNA system. The transition is unstable and limited in scale (i.e., cannot spread in the population), but can get strengthened and globalized if certain parameters are changed against RNA (i.e., in favor of DNA). In relation to the subsequent evolution, an advanced system with a larger genome, which uses DNA as genetic material and RNA as functional material, is modeled - the system cannot sustain if the nucleotide reductase ribozyme is "turned off" (thus, DNA cannot be synthesized). Moreover, the advanced system cannot sustain if only DNA's stability, template suitability or replication fidelity (any of the three) is turned down to the level of RNA's. CONCLUSIONS Genetic takeover should be plausible. In the RNA world, such a takeover may have been triggered by the emergence of some ribozyme favoring the formation of deoxynucleotides. The transition may initially have been "weak", but could have been reinforced by environmental changes unfavorable to RNA (such as temperature or pH rise), and would have ultimately become irreversible accompanying the genome's enlargement. Several virtues of DNA (versus RNA) - higher stability against hydrolysis, greater suitability as template and higher fidelity in replication, should have, each in its own way, all been significant for the genetic takeover in evolution. This study enhances our understandings of the relationship between information and material in the living world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P.R.China.
| | - Chunwu Yu
- College of Computer Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P.R.China
| | - Wentao Zhang
- College of Computer Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P.R.China
| | - Sanmao Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P.R.China
| | - Yu Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P.R.China
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Lundin D, Berggren G, Logan DT, Sjöberg BM. The origin and evolution of ribonucleotide reduction. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:604-36. [PMID: 25734234 PMCID: PMC4390871 DOI: 10.3390/life5010604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribonucleotide reduction is the only pathway for de novo synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides in extant organisms. This chemically demanding reaction, which proceeds via a carbon-centered free radical, is catalyzed by ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). The mechanism has been deemed unlikely to be catalyzed by a ribozyme, creating an enigma regarding how the building blocks for DNA were synthesized at the transition from RNA- to DNA-encoded genomes. While it is entirely possible that a different pathway was later replaced with the modern mechanism, here we explore the evolutionary and biochemical limits for an origin of the mechanism in the RNA + protein world and suggest a model for a prototypical ribonucleotide reductase (protoRNR). From the protoRNR evolved the ancestor to modern RNRs, the urRNR, which diversified into the modern three classes. Since the initial radical generation differs between the three modern classes, it is difficult to establish how it was generated in the urRNR. Here we suggest a model that is similar to the B12-dependent mechanism in modern class II RNRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lundin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gustav Berggren
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Derek T Logan
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Britt-Marie Sjöberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
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