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Random sequences rapidly evolve into de novo promoters

Author

Listed:
  • Avihu H. Yona

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Eric J. Alm

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Jeff Gore

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

How new functions arise de novo is a fundamental question in evolution. We studied de novo evolution of promoters in Escherichia coli by replacing the lac promoter with various random sequences of the same size (~100 bp) and evolving the cells in the presence of lactose. We find that ~60% of random sequences can evolve expression comparable to the wild-type with only one mutation, and that ~10% of random sequences can serve as active promoters even without evolution. Such a short mutational distance between random sequences and active promoters may improve the evolvability, yet may also lead to accidental promoters inside genes that interfere with normal expression. Indeed, our bioinformatic analyses indicate that E. coli was under selection to reduce accidental promoters inside genes by avoiding promoter-like sequences. We suggest that a low threshold for functionality balanced by selection against undesired targets can increase the evolvability by making new beneficial features more accessible.

Suggested Citation

  • Avihu H. Yona & Eric J. Alm & Jeff Gore, 2018. "Random sequences rapidly evolve into de novo promoters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04026-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04026-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Rok Grah & Tamar Friedlander, 2020. "The relation between crosstalk and gene regulation form revisited," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Travis L. LaFleur & Ayaan Hossain & Howard M. Salis, 2022. "Automated model-predictive design of synthetic promoters to control transcriptional profiles in bacteria," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Simeon D. Castle & Michiel Stock & Thomas E. Gorochowski, 2024. "Engineering is evolution: a perspective on design processes to engineer biology," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Jan Zrimec & Xiaozhi Fu & Azam Sheikh Muhammad & Christos Skrekas & Vykintas Jauniskis & Nora K. Speicher & Christoph S. Börlin & Vilhelm Verendel & Morteza Haghir Chehreghani & Devdatt Dubhashi & Ver, 2022. "Controlling gene expression with deep generative design of regulatory DNA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Haiqing Xu & Chuan Li & Chuan Xu & Jianzhi Zhang, 2023. "Chance promoter activities illuminate the origins of eukaryotic intergenic transcriptions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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