隐秘的遗传变异促进了RNA酶的快速进化适应
Eric J Hayden1, Evandro Ferrada, Andreas Wagner
1Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Nature
|June 4, 2011
概括
隐秘的遗传变异,隐藏直到环境变化,加速进化适应. 具有这种变异的RNA酶种群更快地适应新基质,揭示了预先适应的基因型.
科学领域:
- 进化生物学是进化的生物学.
- 分子生物学分子生物学
- 遗传学 是一个遗传学.
背景情况:
- 隐秘的变异源于表型强度的突变.
- 这种隐藏的变异可以通过环境或遗传变化影响进化.
- 它在促进适应方面的作用,特别是在复杂的生物体中,仍未得到充分探索.
研究的目的:
- 调查神秘遗传变异在加速进化适应中的作用.
- 为了证明神秘的变异可以包含在新环境中有益的预先适应的基因型.
主要方法:
- 具有或没有积累的神秘变异的RNA酶种群的演变.
- 用新基质挑战种群,以评估适应率.
- 在基因型空间中分析进化的RNA种群,以了解变异动态.
主要成果:
- 具有神秘变异的种群适应新基质的速度明显更快.
- 详细的基因型分析揭示了新的适应性基因型的探索,这是由神秘变异促进的.
- 隐秘的变异提供了预先适应的基因型,在改变的环境中变得有利.
结论:
- 隐秘的遗传变异在适应性进化中发挥着积极的作用,因为它可以探索有益的基因型.
- 现型强度,导致神秘的变化,可以为人口提供快速适应.
- 表观性和强度是可以通过神秘变异促进进化适应的关键因素.
相关概念视频
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
Bacterial 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...
RNA Editing
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
Bacterial 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:
Leaky Scanning
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...

