Experimental evolution of complexity: in vitro emergence of intermolecular ribozyme interactions.
In the course of evolving variants of the Tetrahymena thermophila Group I ribozyme for improved DNA cleavage in vitro, we witnessed the unexpected emergence of a derived molecular species, capable of acting as a partner for the ribozyme, but no longer autocatalytic. This new RNA species exhibits a deletion in the catalytic core and participates in a productive intermolecular interaction with an active ribozyme, thus insuring its survival in the population. These novel RNA molecules have evolved a precise catalytic interaction with the Group I ribozyme and depend for their survival on the continued presence of active catalysts. This interaction hints at the complexity that may inevitably arise even in simple evolving systems.
Hanczyc
M M
MM
Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
Dorit
R L
RL
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics
D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA