Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria01:29

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

1.1K
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...
1.1K
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

199
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
199
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

6.2K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
6.2K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

2.5K
2.5K
From DNA to Protein03:06

From DNA to Protein

20.7K
The flow of genetic information in cells from DNA to mRNA to protein is described by the central dogma, which states that genes specify the sequence of mRNAs, which in turn specify the sequence of amino acids making up all proteins. The decoding of one molecule to another is performed by specific proteins and RNAs. Because the information stored in DNA is so central to cellular function, it makes intuitive sense that the cell would make mRNA copies of this information for protein synthesis...
20.7K
Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

4.5K
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
4.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Migraine induced by vascular K<sub>ATP</sub> channel activation is independent of HCN channel activity: A randomised controlled trial with translational validation.

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache·2026
Same author

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances during fetal development and risk of testicular germ cell cancer in adulthood.

Environment international·2025
Same author

Paracetamol (N-acetyl-para-aminophenol) disrupts early embryogenesis by cell cycle inhibition.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2025
Same author

Human reproduction in crisis: causes unknown.

Lancet (London, England)·2025
Same author

Compensated Hypogonadism Identified in Males with Cluster Headache: A Prospective Case-Controlled Study.

Annals of neurology·2024
Same author

High-resolution mass spectrometry identifies delayed biomarkers for improved precision in acetaminophen/paracetamol human biomonitoring.

Environment international·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers
10:41

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

Published on: June 24, 2019

7.9K

Coupling between protein level selection and codon usage optimization in the evolution of bacteria and archaea.

Wenqi Ran1, David M Kristensen, Eugene V Koonin

  • 1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Mbio
|March 27, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Selection on protein sequences and codon usage are linked in bacteria and archaea, with stronger coupling in GC-rich genomes. This suggests translational fine-tuning drives GC content evolution, especially in high-status genes.

More Related Videos

Engineering 'Golden' Fluorescence by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids and Protein Analysis by Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence
11:51

Engineering 'Golden' Fluorescence by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids and Protein Analysis by Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence

Published on: April 27, 2018

14.0K
The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli
12:48

The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli

Published on: February 5, 2015

10.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers
10:41

Identifying Amino Acid Overproducers Using Rare-Codon-Rich Markers

Published on: June 24, 2019

7.9K
Engineering 'Golden' Fluorescence by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids and Protein Analysis by Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence
11:51

Engineering 'Golden' Fluorescence by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids and Protein Analysis by Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence

Published on: April 27, 2018

14.0K
The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli
12:48

The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli

Published on: February 5, 2015

10.8K

Area of Science:

  • Microbial Evolution
  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Codon usage bias (Fopt) is generally low in prokaryotes, contrasting with strong purifying selection on protein sequences (dN/dS).
  • A negative correlation between Fopt and dN/dS suggests a link between selection on protein sequences and codon usage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between selection affecting codon usage and selection on protein sequences in diverse bacteria and archaea.
  • To investigate the factors influencing the strength of this coupling, including genomic GC content and gene function.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of orthologous genes from the Alignable Tight Genome Clusters database of prokaryote genomes.
  • Quantification of codon usage bias (Fopt) and purifying selection (dN/dS) for gene-specific analyses.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant negative correlation between Fopt and dN/dS was observed across most genomes.
  • The coupling strength positively correlated with genomic GC content, suggesting selection for translational fine-tuning drives GC-rich genome evolution.
  • The link was stronger in free-living bacteria and for metabolic/transporter genes compared to informational genes.

Conclusions:

  • The coupling between protein sequence selection and codon usage optimization is a distinct factor in microbial evolution.
  • Optimization of codon usage may be a key driver of high GC content evolution in microbial genomes.
  • Translational fine-tuning is crucial for the adaptability of gene expression in response to environmental changes.