Introns and the origin of nucleus-cytosol compartmentalization

Nature. 2006 Mar 2;440(7080):41-5. doi: 10.1038/nature04531.

Abstract

The origin of the eukaryotic nucleus marked a seminal evolutionary transition. We propose that the nuclear envelope's incipient function was to allow mRNA splicing, which is slow, to go to completion so that translation, which is fast, would occur only on mRNA with intact reading frames. The rapid, fortuitous spread of introns following the origin of mitochondria is adduced as the selective pressure that forged nucleus-cytosol compartmentalization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution*
  • Cell Compartmentation / physiology*
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Chromosomes / genetics
  • Chromosomes / metabolism
  • Cytosol / metabolism*
  • Eukaryotic Cells / cytology
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism
  • Introns / genetics*
  • Introns / physiology*
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Models, Biological*
  • Nuclear Envelope / physiology
  • Protein Biosynthesis / genetics
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA