Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) are very ancient enzymes and are essential for all viruses with RNA genomes. We reconstruct the origin and evolution of this polymerase since the initial stages of the origin of life. The origin of the RdRp was traced back from tRNA ancestors. At the origin of th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2017.00125/full |
| _version_ | 1818503872174358528 |
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| author | Savio T. de Farias Ariosvaldo P. dos Santos Junior Thais G. Rêgo Marco V. José |
| author_facet | Savio T. de Farias Ariosvaldo P. dos Santos Junior Thais G. Rêgo Marco V. José |
| author_sort | Savio T. de Farias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) are very ancient enzymes and are essential for all viruses with RNA genomes. We reconstruct the origin and evolution of this polymerase since the initial stages of the origin of life. The origin of the RdRp was traced back from tRNA ancestors. At the origin of the RdRp the most ancient part of the protein is the cofactor-binding site that had the capacity of binding to simple molecules as magnesium, calcium, and ribonucleotides. Our results suggest that RdRp originated from junctions of proto-tRNAs that worked as the first genes at the emergence of the primitive translation system, where the RNA was the informational molecule. The initial domain, worked as a building block for the emergence of the fingers and thumb domains. From the ancestral RdRp, we could establish the evolutionary stages of viral evolution from a rooted ancestor to modern viruses. It was observed that the selective pressure under the RdRp was the organization and functioning of the genome, where RNA double-stranded and RNA single-stranded virus formed a separate group. We propose an evolutionary route to the polymerases and the results suggest an ancient scenario for the origin of RNA viruses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:29:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-adb5ff8de17a4c1aae31be66818a029a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:29:39Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-adb5ff8de17a4c1aae31be66818a029a2022-12-22T01:32:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212017-09-01810.3389/fgene.2017.00125295941Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA PolymeraseSavio T. de Farias0Ariosvaldo P. dos Santos Junior1Thais G. Rêgo2Marco V. José3Laboratório de Genética Evolutiva Paulo Leminsk, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal da ParaíbaJoão Pessoa, BrazilLaboratório de Genética Evolutiva Paulo Leminsk, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal da ParaíbaJoão Pessoa, BrazilDepartamento de Informática, Universidade Federal da ParaíbaJoão Pessoa, BrazilTheoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMexico City, MexicoRNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) are very ancient enzymes and are essential for all viruses with RNA genomes. We reconstruct the origin and evolution of this polymerase since the initial stages of the origin of life. The origin of the RdRp was traced back from tRNA ancestors. At the origin of the RdRp the most ancient part of the protein is the cofactor-binding site that had the capacity of binding to simple molecules as magnesium, calcium, and ribonucleotides. Our results suggest that RdRp originated from junctions of proto-tRNAs that worked as the first genes at the emergence of the primitive translation system, where the RNA was the informational molecule. The initial domain, worked as a building block for the emergence of the fingers and thumb domains. From the ancestral RdRp, we could establish the evolutionary stages of viral evolution from a rooted ancestor to modern viruses. It was observed that the selective pressure under the RdRp was the organization and functioning of the genome, where RNA double-stranded and RNA single-stranded virus formed a separate group. We propose an evolutionary route to the polymerases and the results suggest an ancient scenario for the origin of RNA viruses.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2017.00125/fullorigin of lifevirus evolutionRNA worldtRNAsRdRp |
| spellingShingle | Savio T. de Farias Ariosvaldo P. dos Santos Junior Thais G. Rêgo Marco V. José Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Frontiers in Genetics origin of life virus evolution RNA world tRNAs RdRp |
| title | Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase |
| title_full | Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase |
| title_fullStr | Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase |
| title_full_unstemmed | Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase |
| title_short | Origin and Evolution of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase |
| title_sort | origin and evolution of rna dependent rna polymerase |
| topic | origin of life virus evolution RNA world tRNAs RdRp |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fgene.2017.00125/full |
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