Summary
Many tRNAs ofE. coli and yeast contain stretches whose base sequences are similar to those found in their respective rRNAs. The matches are too frequent and extensive to be attributed to coincidence. They are distributed without discernible pattern along and among the RNAs and between the two species. They occur in loops as well as in stems, among both conserved and non-conserved regions. Their distributions suggest that they reflect common ancestral origins rather than common functions, and that they represent true homologies.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biebricher C, Eigen M, Luce R (1981) Kinetic analysis of template-instructed and de novo RNA synthesis by Qβ replicase. J Mol Biol 148:391–410
Bloch DP, McArthur B, Widdowson R, Spector D, Guimaraes RC, Smith J (1982) tRNA-rRNA sequence homologies: Evidence for a common evolutionary origin? (Abstract) J Cell Biol 95:468a
Bloch DP, McArthur B, Widdowson R, Spector D, Guimaraes RC, Smith J (1983) tRNA-rRNA sequence homologies: A model for the generation of a common ancestral molecule and prospects for its reconstruction (In preparation)
Bloch DP, McArthur B, Guimaraes RC, Smith J, Reese M, Jayasalleen S (1984) tRNA and rRNA sequence homologies: Test for evolutionary convergence (in preparation)
Brosius J, Dull TJ, Noller HF (1980) Complete nucleotide sequence of a 23S ribosomal RNA gene from Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:201–204
Cedergren RJ, LaRue B, Sankoff D, Lapalme G, Grosjean H (1980) Convergence and minimal mutation criteria for evaluating early events in tRNA evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:2791–2795
Eigen M, Winkler-Oswatitsch R (1981) Transfer-RNA, an Early Gene? Naturwissenschaften 68:282–292
Farrelly F, Butow RA (1983) Rearranged mitochondrial genes in the yeast nuclear genome. Nature 301:297–301
Fitch WM (1970) Distinguishing homologous from analogous proteins. Syst Zool 19:99–113
Goad WB, Kanehisa MI (1982) Pattern recognition in nucleic acid sequences. I. A general method for finding local homologies and symmetries. Nucleic Acids Res 10:247–263
Goulian MJ, Lucas L, Kornberg A (1968) Enzymatic synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid. J Biol Chem 243:627–638
Mackinlay AG (1982) Polynucleotide replication coupled to protein synthesis: A possible mechanism for the origin of life. Orig Life 12:55–69
Noller HF, Woese CR (1981) Secondary structure of 16S ribosomal RNA. Science 212:403–411
Sharp S, DeFranco D, Dingerman T, Farrell P, Soll D (1981) Internal control regions for transcription of eukaryotic tRNA genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 78:6657–6661
Sprinzl M, Gauss DH (1982) Compilation of tRNA sequences. Nucleic Acid Res 10:1–55
Zweib C, Glotz C, Brimacombe R (1982) Secondary structure comparisons between small subunit ribosomal RNA molecules from six different species. Nucleic Acids Res 9:3621–3640
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is dedicated to the memory of Prof. W. Gordon Whaley, in recognition of his important contributions to cell biology and graduate education, and in appreciation of his help and encouragement.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bloch, D.P., McArthur, B., Widdowson, R. et al. tRNA-rRNA sequence homologies: Evidence for a common evolutionary origin?. J Mol Evol 19, 420–428 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02102317
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02102317