The natural history of molecular functions inferred from an extensive phylogenomic analysis of gene ontology data.

ABSTRACT: The origin and natural history of molecular functions hold the key to the emergence of cellular organization and modern biochemistry. Here we use a genomic census of Gene Ontology (GO) terms to reconstruct phylogenies at the three highest (1, 2 and 3) and the lowest (terminal) levels of the hierarchy of molecular functions, which reflect the broadest and the most specific GO definitions, respectively. These phylogenies define evolutionary timelines of functional innovation. We analyzed 249 free-living organisms comprising the three superkingdoms of life, Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Phylogenies indicate catalytic, binding and transport functions were the oldest, suggesting a 'metabolism-first' origin scenario for biochemistry. Metabolism made use of increasingly complicated organic chem

SUBMITTER: Koc I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5414959 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature