Niche partitioning in the coevolution of 2 distinct RNA enzymes.

ABSTRACT: Organisms that compete for limited resources within a common environment may evolve traits that allow them to exploit distinct ecological niches, thus enabling multiple species to coexist within the same habitat. The process of niche partitioning now has been captured at the molecular level, employing the method of continuous in vitro evolution. Mixed populations of 2 different "species" of RNA enzymes were made to compete for limited amounts of one or more substrates, with utilization of the substrate being necessary for amplification of the RNA. Evolution in the presence of a single substrate led to the extinction of one or the other enzyme, whereas evolution in the presence of 5 alternative substrates led to the accumulation of mutations that allowed each enzyme to exploit a different p

SUBMITTER: Voytek SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2683078 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature