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RNA Interference in Aquatic Beetles as a Powerful Tool for Manipulating Gene Expression at Specific Developmental Time Points
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The origin of RNA interference: Adaptive or neutral evolution?

Alessandro Torri1, Johannes Jaeger2, Thomas Pradeu3,4

  • 1Virus & RNA interference Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 3569, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.

Plos Biology
|June 29, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

We propose a neutral evolutionary origin for RNA interference (RNAi), suggesting it arose from prokaryotic gene regulation before evolving defensive functions against viruses and transposons.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The prevailing hypothesis posits RNA interference (RNAi) evolved as a defense mechanism against transposable elements and viruses in the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA).
  • Ancient and widespread RNA antisense regulation and double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) suggest a more complex origin for RNAi, potentially involving parallel evolution of defensive and regulatory functions.
  • The need to avoid gene regulatory imbalances implies defensive RNAi might not be the sole or primary evolutionary driver.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose an alternative hypothesis for the origin of RNA interference (RNAi).
  • To explore the role of constructive neutral evolution (CNE) in the emergence of RNAi.
  • To investigate the potential for RNAi to predate its proposed defensive roles and influence early eukaryotic genome evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of evolutionary pathways for RNA interference (RNAi).
  • Comparative analysis of prokaryotic antisense RNA gene regulation mechanisms.
  • Hypothesizing system drift from ancient regulatory functions to RNAi.

Main Results:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) likely originated through constructive neutral evolution (CNE) from prokaryotic antisense RNA gene regulation.
  • RNAi predates the emergence of its defensive functions against transposable elements and viruses.
  • The early presence of RNAi shaped the genomic architecture and stability of early eukaryotes.

Conclusions:

  • The origin of RNA interference (RNAi) is better explained by a neutral evolutionary hypothesis, driven by constructive neutral evolution (CNE).
  • RNAi evolved from pre-existing prokaryotic gene regulation, predating its role in defense.
  • This early evolution of RNAi was crucial in shaping eukaryotic genomic structure and stability.