[Segmented genome: elementary units of genome structure].
Numerous observations, measurements and calculations strongly indicate that both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes are built as linear arrays of units of rather uniform size, about 400 base pairs. The units are likely to correspond to early individual genes that existed, presumably, in form of DNA circles. Their combinatorial fusion resulted eventually in formation of the early segmented genomes. The segmented structure of the genomes is, apparently, still maintained by some structural selection pressures. Some of the units can be recognized in the sequences by characteristic sequence motifs at the borders of the units. Identification and characterization of the units, their mapping on the genomes should become an important prerequisite of genome comparisons and genome evolution studies.
Trifonov
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Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100 Israel. edward.trifonov@weizmann.ac.il
D005075:Biological Evolution; D004270:DNA, Circular; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005091:Exons; D016678:Genome; D007438:Introns; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D004270:DNA, Circular; D011506:Proteins