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Experimental verification of a hypothesis of early evolution of complexity using a primitive life-like system

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K23763
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section 0703:Biology at organismal to population levels and anthropology, and related fields
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

Mizuuchi Ryo  東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 特任助教 (60845535)

Project Period (FY) 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Keywords生命の起源 / 生命の初期進化 / 複雑化 / RNA / 実験進化 / 翻訳システム / 再構成 / 人工細胞
Outline of Research at the Start

本研究では、原始複製体を模擬した異なる遺伝情報をもつ2種類のRNAが、どのような原始環境条件で進化的に融合し、一本の長いゲノムになるかを実験的に検証する。またその進化プロセスの詳細な理解を試みる。これにより、原始地球に生まれた単純な情報分子の自己複製体が、どのようにして遺伝情報を拡張し、複雑な生命システムへと進化していったのかについて、一つの可能なシナリオを提示する。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we (1) theoretically investigated how primitive RNA replicators could be integrated into a long genome through Darwinian evolution, and (2) developed necessary molecules for examining the validity of a theoretical prediction. In the theoretical part, we simulated the long-term replication of cooperative RNA replicators, during which mutations may integrate the cooperators. We found that a critical factor for the evolution of such an RNA assembly is the appearance of unfunctional RNAs that replicate by exploiting the cooperative RNAs, which has been considered a major problem in the early evolution of life. In the experimental part, by combining genetic engineering and directed evolution, we obtained a long replicable RNA derived from two RNA replicators encoding different proteins. The study not only revealed likely conditions where primitive molecular replicators could have been integrated but also established the necessary basis for experimental verification.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

原始地球において生命がどのように誕生し、進化してきたのかを理解することは、科学の大きな問の一つである。一般に原始生命はRNAなどの情報分子の自己複製体として誕生した後、進化によって徐々に遺伝情報を拡張して複雑化したと考えられているが、この複雑化を引き起こす要因は謎に包まれていた。本研究では、原始複製体や原始区画で考えられる特徴が複雑化の一側面、すなわち複数の複製体がもつ遺伝情報の統合を促進する可能性を見出した。この結果は単純な分子複製体が複雑な生命システムへと進化していく一つのシナリオを提示し、例えば生命の起源の必要条件を絞り込むことに繋がる。

Report

(3 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (14 results)

All 2021 2020 2019

All Journal Article (5 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 4 results,  Open Access: 4 results) Presentation (9 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results,  Invited: 4 results)

  • [Journal Article] Primitive Compartmentalization for the Sustainable Replication of Genetic Molecules2021

    • Author(s)
      Mizuuchi Ryo、Ichihashi Norikazu
    • Journal Title

      Life

      Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Pages: 1-17

    • DOI

      10.3390/life11030191

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Translation-coupled RNA replication and parasitic replicators in membrane-free compartments2020

    • Author(s)
      Mizuuchi Ryo、Ichihashi Norikazu
    • Journal Title

      Chemical Communications

      Volume: 56 Issue: 87 Pages: 13453-13456

    • DOI

      10.1039/d0cc06606k

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Emergence and diversification of a host-parasite RNA ecosystem through Darwinian evolution2020

    • Author(s)
      Furubayashi Taro、Ueda Kensuke、Bansho Yohsuke、Motooka Daisuke、Nakamura Shota、Mizuuchi Ryo、Ichihashi Norikazu
    • Journal Title

      eLife

      Volume: 9 Pages: 1-15

    • DOI

      10.7554/elife.56038

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] In vitro evolution of phi29 DNA polymerases through compartmentalized gene expression and rolling-circle replication2020

    • Author(s)
      Sakatani Yoshihiro、Mizuuchi Ryo、Ichihashi Norikazu
    • Journal Title

      Protein Engineering, Design and Selection

      Volume: 32 Issue: 11 Pages: 481-487

    • DOI

      10.1093/protein/gzaa011

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Structural transition of replicable RNAs during in vitro evolution with Qβ replicase2019

    • Author(s)
      Mizuuchi Ryo、Usui Kimihito、Ichihashi Norikazu
    • Journal Title

      RNA

      Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Pages: 83-90

    • DOI

      10.1261/rna.073106.119

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Presentation] 原始生命を模した分子複製システムの構築と進化2021

    • Author(s)
      水内良
    • Organizer
      第1回分子サイバネティクス定例研究会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] 無細胞翻訳系を用いた液滴内でのRNAの自己複製2021

    • Author(s)
      水内良、市橋伯一
    • Organizer
      第15回無細胞生命科学研究会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 原始生命を模した分子複製システムの進化と改良2021

    • Author(s)
      水内良
    • Organizer
      生命の起原および進化学会 2021年シンポジウム
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] 液滴での翻訳を介したRNAの自己複製2020

    • Author(s)
      水内良、市橋伯一
    • Organizer
      「細胞を創る」研究会 13.0
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Translation-coupled RNA replication in membrane-free droplets2020

    • Author(s)
      水内良、市橋伯一
    • Organizer
      第58回日本生物物理学会年会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] RNA自己複製体のダーウィン進化による複雑化2020

    • Author(s)
      水内良、古林太郎、市橋伯一
    • Organizer
      日本進化学会 第22回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Emergence of cooperative RNA replicators in an artificial cell-like system2020

    • Author(s)
      Ryo Mizuuchi
    • Organizer
      8th ELSI Symposium
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Compartmentalization for the evolution of cooperation in RNA replicators2019

    • Author(s)
      Ryo Mizuuchi
    • Organizer
      Primitive Compartmentalization Symposium
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Autocatalytic sets, Mineral surfaces, and the evolution of RNA2019

    • Author(s)
      Ryo Mizuuchi
    • Organizer
      Ribonucleoprotein reconstruction/evolution mini-workshop
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited

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Published: 2019-09-03   Modified: 2022-01-27  

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