The genetic origin and architecture of sex determination

Domain Interaction ◽

Genetic Origin ◽

The Common

Abstract Here, I demonstrate that sex determination and sexual dimorphism across tree of life are deeply related to polyamine biochemistry in cells, especially to the synteny of genes: [SAT1-NR0B1], [SAT2-SHBG] and DMRT1. This synteny was found to be most distinct in mammals. Further, the common protein domain of SAT1 and SAT2 - PF00583 was shown to be present in the genome of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). Protein domain-domain interaction analysis of LUCA’s genes suggests the possibility that LUCA had developed an immune defence against viruses. This domain-domain interaction analysis is the first scientific evidence indicating that viruses existed at least 3.5 billions years ago and probably co-existed with LUCA on early Hadean Earth.

The genetic origin and architecture of sex determination

10.1101/2021.12.06.471508 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tisham De

Keyword(s):

Sex Determination ◽

Common Ancestor ◽

Interaction Analysis ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Protein Domain ◽

Domain Interaction ◽

Genetic Origin ◽

The Common

Here, I demonstrate that sex determination and sexual dimorphism across tree of life are deeply related to polyamine biochemistry in cells, especially to the synteny of genes: [SAT1-NR0B1], [SAT2-SHBG] and DMRT1. This synteny was found to be most distinct in mammals. Further, the common protein domain of SAT1 and SAT2 - PF00583 was shown to be present in the genome of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). Protein domain-domain interaction analysis of LUCAs genes suggests the possibility that LUCA had developed an immune defence against viruses. This domain-domain interaction analysis is the first scientific evidence indicating that viruses existed at least 3.5 billions years ago and probably co-existed with LUCA on early Hadean Earth.

Origin of Life

The American Biology Teacher ◽

10.1525/abt.2021.83.2.76 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 76-79

Author(s):

Cristina Sousa

Keyword(s):

Origin Of Life ◽

Common Ancestor ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Recent Common Ancestor ◽

Most Recent Common Ancestor ◽

The Origin Of Life

The origin of life is one of the most interesting and challenging questions in biology. This article discusses relevant contemporary theories and hypotheses about the origin of life, recent scientific evidence supporting them, and the main contributions of several scientists of different nationalities and specialties in different disciplines. Also discussed are several ideas about the characteristics of the most recent common ancestor, also called the “last universal common ancestor” (or LUCA), including cellular status (unicellular or community) and homogeneity level.

The Histidine Biosynthetic Genes in the Superphylum Bacteroidota-Rhodothermota-Balneolota-Chlorobiota: Insights into the Evolution of Gene Structure and Organization

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9071439 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 1439

Author(s):

Sara Del Duca ◽

Christopher Riccardi ◽

Alberto Vassallo ◽

Giulia Fontana ◽

Lara Mitia Castronovo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Structure ◽

Gene Fusion ◽

Common Ancestor ◽

Phylogenetic Distribution ◽

Complete Set ◽

The Common ◽

Gene Structures ◽

Taxonomic Groups

One of the most studied metabolic routes is the biosynthesis of histidine, especially in enterobacteria where a single compact operon composed of eight adjacent genes encodes the complete set of biosynthetic enzymes. It is still not clear how his genes were organized in the genome of the last universal common ancestor community. The aim of this work was to analyze the structure, organization, phylogenetic distribution, and degree of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of his genes in the Bacteroidota-Rhodothermota-Balneolota-Chlorobiota superphylum, a group of phylogenetically close bacteria with different surviving strategies. The analysis of the large variety of his gene structures and organizations revealed different scenarios with genes organized in more or less compact—heterogeneous or homogeneous—operons, in suboperons, or in regulons. The organization of his genes in the extant members of the superphylum suggests that in the common ancestor of this group, genes were scattered throughout the chromosome and that different forces have driven the assembly of his genes in compact operons. Gene fusion events and/or paralog formation, HGT of single genes or entire operons between strains of the same or different taxonomic groups, and other molecular rearrangements shaped the his gene structure in this superphylum.

SepF is the FtsZ anchor in archaea, with features of an ancestral cell division system

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23099-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nika Pende ◽

Adrià Sogues ◽

Daniela Megrian ◽

Anna Sartori-Rupp ◽

Patrick England ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Division ◽

Common Ancestor ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Super Resolution ◽

Binding Mode ◽

Division Plane ◽

Multiple Factors ◽

Super Resolution Microscopy

AbstractMost archaea divide by binary fission using an FtsZ-based system similar to that of bacteria, but they lack many of the divisome components described in model bacterial organisms. Notably, among the multiple factors that tether FtsZ to the membrane during bacterial cell constriction, archaea only possess SepF-like homologs. Here, we combine structural, cellular, and evolutionary analyses to demonstrate that SepF is the FtsZ anchor in the human-associated archaeon Methanobrevibacter smithii. 3D super-resolution microscopy and quantitative analysis of immunolabeled cells show that SepF transiently co-localizes with FtsZ at the septum and possibly primes the future division plane. M. smithii SepF binds to membranes and to FtsZ, inducing filament bundling. High-resolution crystal structures of archaeal SepF alone and in complex with the FtsZ C-terminal domain (FtsZCTD) reveal that SepF forms a dimer with a homodimerization interface driving a binding mode that is different from that previously reported in bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses of SepF and FtsZ from bacteria and archaea indicate that the two proteins may date back to the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), and we speculate that the archaeal mode of SepF/FtsZ interaction might reflect an ancestral feature. Our results provide insights into the mechanisms of archaeal cell division and pave the way for a better understanding of the processes underlying the divide between the two prokaryotic domains.