rRNA Archives

Graphical abstract -- Nucleic Acids Research

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

New Study Sheds Light on Ancient Protoribosome and its Role in Early Life Evolution

by Keith CowingOctober 2, 2024October 2, 2024

Scientists have uncovered new insights into the protoribosome, a molecular fossil within the ribosome, which plays a key role in the origin of life on Earth. This research, published in […]

A hypothetical evolutionary scenario of the origin and fold switch of ribosom protein msL1/msL2. The Sewall Wright’s adaptive fitness landscape shows a possible order o events in which degeneration of rRNA in microsporidian species was compensated by the orig and subsequent evolution of a new ribosomal protein. In this hypothetical order of event microsporidian species have undergone a progressive reduction of their ribosomal RNA, whic was likely caused by the accumulation of deleterious mutations in microsporidian genomes du to frequent genetic drifts. Then a new protein msL1 could originate through the spontaneous d novo birth of a gene that was retained in microsporidia due to its ability to counterbalance th rRNA reduction. As rRNA continued to evolve and reduce in size, protein msL1 then underwe a fold switch to yield protein msL2, which three-dimensional structure allowed msL2 to regain i high affinity to its further reduced binding site (rRNA helix H52). -- biorxiv.org

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report

A Conserved Ribosomal Protein Has Entirely Dissimilar Structures In Different Organisms

by Keith CowingJanuary 11, 2024January 10, 2024

Ribosomes from different species can markedly differ in their composition by including dozens of ribosomal proteins that are unique to specific lineages but absent in others. However, it remains unknown […]