Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Apr 3;104(14):5806-11. Epub 2007 Mar 28.
Related Articles, Links
Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read
Extrachromosomal element capture and the evolution of multiple replication origins in archaeal chromosomes.

Robinson NP, Bell SD.

Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison Medical Research Council Research Center, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, United Kingdom. npr22@hutchison-mrc.cam.ac.uk

In all three domains of life, DNA replication begins at specialized loci termed replication origins. In bacteria, replication initiates from a single, clearly defined site. In contrast, eukaryotic organisms exploit a multitude of replication origins, dividing their genomes into an array of short contiguous units. Recently, the multiple replication origin paradigm has also been demonstrated within the archaeal domain of life, with the discovery that the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus has three replication origins. However, the evolutionary mechanism driving the progression from single to multiple origin usage remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Aeropyrum pernix, a distant relative of Sulfolobus, has two origins. Comparison with the Sulfolobus origins provides evidence for evolution of replicon complexity by capture of extrachromosomal genetic elements. We additionally identify a previously unrecognized candidate archaeal initiator protein that is distantly related to eukaryotic Cdt1. Our data thus provide evidence that horizontal gene transfer, in addition to its well-established role in contributing to the information content of chromosomes, may fundamentally alter the manner in which the host chromosome is replicated.

Publication Types:
PMID: 17392430 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1851573