Evolution of error correction through a need for speed

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Molecular Biology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Kinetic proofreading is a biological mechanism that uses energy to minimize errors during crucial molecular processes.
• It is generally assumed that proofreading evolves when the need for high fidelity surpasses the energetic and speed costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether kinetic proofreading can evolve under selection for speed alone, even without direct fidelity advantages.
• To explore analogous error-correction mechanisms in multicomponent self-assembly driven by selection for rapid assembly.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of kinetic proofreading incorporating post-misincorporation stalling.
• Generalization of the model to multicomponent self-assembly processes.

Main Results:

• Proofreading can accelerate replication when stalling after misincorporations is considered.
• Selection for speed alone can drive the evolution of kinetic proofreading, contrary to previous assumptions.
• Analogous error-correction mechanisms, like dynamic instability, can emerge from selection for rapid assembly.

Conclusions:

• Non-equilibrium error correction can evolve driven by selection for speed, independent of direct fidelity benefits.
• Findings have implications for understanding mutation rate evolution, molecular assembly, and early life.
• Kinetic proofreading may evolve as a strategy to enhance the speed of biological processes.