A model for genesis of transcription systems. Issue 1 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burton, Zachary F.; Opron, Kristopher; Wei, Guowei; Geiger, James H.
• Is Part Of: Transcription. Volume 7:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: cradle-loop barrel metafold -- double-Ψ−β-barrels -- general transcription factors -- LECA (the last eukaryotic common ancestor) -- LUCA (the last universal common cellular ancestor) -- replication -- RIFT barrels -- RNA polymerase -- Rossmann folds -- σ factors -- TATA-binding protein (TBP) -- the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II -- TIM barrels -- transcription -- transcription factor B (TFB) -- α/β protein folds; Genetic transcription -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2015.1128518
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2154-1264

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Repeating sequences generated from RNA gene fusions/ligations dominate ancient life, indicating central importance of building structural complexity in evolving biological systems. A simple and coherent story of life on earth is told from tracking repeating motifs that generate α/β proteins, 2-double-Ψ−β-barrel (DPBB) type RNA polymerases (RNAPs), general transcription factors (GTFs), and promoters. A general rule that emerges is that biological complexity that arises through generation of repeats is often bounded by solubility and closure (i.e., to form a pseudo-dimer or a barrel). Because the first DNA genomes were replicated by DNA template-dependent RNA synthesis followed by RNA template-dependent DNA synthesis via reverse transcriptase, the first DNA replication origins were initially 2-DPBB type RNAP promoters. A simplifying model for evolution of promoters/replication origins via repetition of core promoter elements is proposed. The model can explain why Pribnow boxes in bacterial transcription (i.e., −12 TATAATG −6 ) so closely resemble TATA boxes (i.e., −31 TATAAAAG −24 ) in archaeal/eukaryotic transcription. The evolution of anchor DNA sequences in bacterial (i.e., −35 TTGACA −30 ) and archaeal (BREup ; BRE for TFB recognition element) promoters is potentially explained. The evolution of BREdown elements of archaeal promoters is potentially explained.