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Multiple intermolecular interactions facilitate rapid evolution of essential genes.

Huei-Yi Lai1, Yen-Hsin Yu1, Yu-Ting Jhou1

  • 1Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.

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|March 30, 2023
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Summary

Essential genes, crucial for basic cell functions, can evolve rapidly, especially within large protein complexes. This rapid evolution is driven by co-evolutionary processes, influenced by interactions with other proteins.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Essential genes are typically considered highly conserved due to their fundamental cellular roles.
  • The evolutionary rates and conservation patterns of essential genes across different species are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether all essential genes evolve at similar rates.
  • To identify factors that may accelerate the evolution of essential genes.

Main Methods:

  • Replaced 86 essential genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with orthologs from species diverging at different evolutionary distances (50, 100, 270, and 420 million years ago).
  • Analyzed the evolutionary rates of these replaced genes.
  • Investigated the functional and physical interactions of fast-evolving genes, focusing on the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C).

Main Results:

  • Identified a subset of essential genes that evolve rapidly, often encoding subunits of large protein complexes like the APC/C.
  • Demonstrated that the incompatibility of fast-evolving genes can be resolved by co-replacing interacting protein components, indicating co-evolution.
  • Showed that co-evolution extends beyond direct interactors to secondary proteins, highlighting the role of epistasis.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid evolution of essential genes is possible and is associated with participation in large protein complexes.
  • Protein co-evolution, influenced by epistasis and intermolecular interactions within complexes, drives accelerated evolution of essential gene subunits.