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 Experiment Videos

Continuous in vitro evolution of catalytic function

M C Wright1, G F Joyce

  • 1Department of Chemistry, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 25, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Post-surgical events and persistent pain after breast cancer surgery: a reply.

Anaesthesia·2023
Same author

Risk factors for persistent pain after breast cancer surgery: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Anaesthesia·2023
Same author

Pancreatic progenitor-derived hepatocytes are viable and functional in a 3D high density bioreactor culture system.

Toxicology research·2018
Same author

Work related programs in occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy in health care·2013
Same author

Resistance of precision-cut liver slices to the toxic effects of menadione.

Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA·2010
Same author

Departures from the protocol during conduct of a clinical trial: a pattern from the data record consistent with a learning curve.

Quality & safety in health care·2010
Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Detecting supramolecular organic nanoparticles during heat wave".

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Local signals, systemic decline.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

The mechanics of liver regeneration.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Computing in a memory with physics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Retraction.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Making time.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
See all related articles

Researchers evolved RNA molecules capable of catalyzing template-directed ligation in a test tube. Continuous in vitro evolution significantly enhanced both catalytic and amplification rates of these RNA molecules over 300 rounds.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • RNA molecules can exhibit catalytic activity (ribozymes).
  • Template-directed ligation is a key step in RNA replication.
  • In vitro evolution is a powerful tool for selecting molecules with desired functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evolve RNA ligases capable of template-directed RNA synthesis.
  • To investigate the potential for continuous in vitro evolution of catalytic molecules.
  • To improve the catalytic and amplification rates of RNA ligases.

Main Methods:

  • Continuous serial transfer of RNA populations in vitro.
  • Approximately 300 successive rounds of catalysis and selective amplification over 52 hours.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNASA Discipline Number 52-20NASA Discipline Number 93-10NASA Program ExobiologyNASA Program NSCORTNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • Maintenance of population size against significant dilution (3 x 10^298).

    • Main Results:

    • Substantial improvements in both catalytic rate and amplification rate of RNA ligases.
    • Accumulation of beneficial mutations driving evolutionary enhancement.
    • Demonstration of sustained evolution and perpetuation of catalytic RNA populations.

    Conclusions:

    • Continuous in vitro evolution is an effective method for rapidly enhancing RNA ligase function.
    • Laboratory 'cultures' of catalytic molecules can be indefinitely perpetuated.
    • This approach offers a pathway for developing self-replicating RNA systems.