Protein content of minimal and ancestral ribosome.
Minimal genome approaches seek to define the smallest gene complement compatible with modern-type cellular life on Earth. A consensus of computational and experimental approaches indicates that a minimal genome is close to 300 protein-coding genes, if a rich medium is provided for cell growth. I relate ribosomal gene content in completely sequenced genomes to ribosomal subunit structure and approximate the protein components of the putative minimal ribosome and the ribosome of the Last Universal Common Ancestor of Life. Both sets contain between 35 and 40 proteins. There is evidence of protein-protein and protein-RNA displacement in the evolution of both ribosomal subunits.
Mushegian
Arcady
A
Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th St., Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. arm@stowers-institute.org
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D030562:Databases, Protein; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins