Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
10:53
Isolation of Cognate RNA-protein Complexes from Cells Using Oligonucleotide-directed Elution
Published on: January 16, 2017
Prebiotic RNA Network Formation: A Taxonomy of Molecular Cooperation
Cole Mathis1, Sanjay N Ramprasad2, Sara Imari Walker3,4
1Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. cole.mathis@asu.edu.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 17, 2017
Summary
Cooperation in RNA systems, like the Azoarcus ribozyme, is key for biological complexity. Triplet interactions naturally favor cooperation due to specific catalytic rates, aiding the origin of life.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Systems Chemistry
Background:
- Cooperation is fundamental for the evolution of biological complexity.
- Game theory models, typically used for biological cooperation, can also explain chemical systems dynamics.
- The Azoarcus ribozyme system provides a real-world model for studying RNA cooperation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the types of cooperation possible within the Azoarcus ribozyme system.
- To develop a taxonomy of potential cooperative groups in this RNA system.
- To computationally model the system and identify factors promoting cooperation.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a taxonomy of cooperative groups for the Azoarcus ribozyme system.
- Developed a computational model of the RNA system.
- Analyzed the distribution of empirically measured catalytic rate constants.
Main Results:
- Triplet interactions among genotypes are intrinsically biased towards cooperation.
- This bias is attributed to the specific distribution of catalytic rate constants in the Azoarcus system.
- Cooperation is less favored under different distributions of rate constants.
Conclusions:
- The Azoarcus ribozyme system's specific catalytic properties inherently promote cooperation.
- Cooperation, driven by such interactions, may be a significant factor in the origin of life and complexification.
- Findings offer insights into the evolutionary role of cooperation in early chemical systems.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:06Conditions on Early Earth
Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
00:43Bacterial 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...
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...
02:53Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
01:53Bacterial Transcription
RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
00:43Bacterial 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...
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...
02:53Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...