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Related Concept Videos

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria01:29

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Replication in Prokaryotes01:32

Replication in Prokaryotes

DNA replication has three main steps: initiation, elongation, and termination. Replication in prokaryotes begins when initiator proteins bind to the single origin of replication (ori) on the cell's circular chromosome. Replication then proceeds around the entire circle of the chromosome in each direction from the two replication forks, resulting in two DNA molecules.
Many Proteins Work Together to Replicate the Chromosome
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Replication in Prokaryotes02:35

Replication in Prokaryotes

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Replication in Prokaryotes02:35

Replication in Prokaryotes

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase
07:27

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

Published on: April 29, 2010

Spontaneous network formation among cooperative RNA replicators.

Nilesh Vaidya1, Michael L Manapat, Irene A Chen

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97207, USA.

Nature
|October 19, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Early life likely involved cooperative molecular networks, not just single molecules. RNA fragments self-assembled into cooperative networks that outcompeted selfish cycles, demonstrating early evolution of complexity.

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Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase
07:27

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

Published on: April 29, 2010

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Origin of Life Studies
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Systems Chemistry

Background:

  • The emergence of life required self-replicating systems to manage biological information.
  • In an RNA world, low mutation rates were essential for RNA self-replication and competition.
  • Theoretical models suggest that interacting molecular networks, rather than individual molecules, are key to sustaining life-like behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spontaneous formation of cooperative catalytic cycles and networks from RNA fragments.
  • To determine if cooperative RNA networks exhibit enhanced growth dynamics compared to selfish autocatalytic cycles.
  • To demonstrate the evolvability of these molecular networks through in vitro selection.

Main Methods:

  • Self-assembly of RNA fragments into self-replicating ribozymes.
  • Analysis of cooperative catalytic cycles and network formation.
  • Competition experiments between cooperative networks and selfish autocatalytic cycles.
  • In vitro selection to observe network evolvability.

Main Results:

  • Mixtures of RNA fragments spontaneously formed cooperative catalytic cycles and networks.
  • A specific three-membered RNA network exhibited highly cooperative growth dynamics.
  • Cooperative networks demonstrated faster growth than selfish autocatalytic cycles when directly competed.
  • In vitro selection confirmed the evolvability of these RNA networks.

Conclusions:

  • Cooperative behavior is advantageous even at the molecular stages of nascent life.
  • RNA populations possess an intrinsic ability to evolve greater complexity through cooperation.
  • Molecular networks, rather than isolated molecules, likely played a crucial role in the origins of life.