Selection Against Spurious Promoter Motifs Correlates with Translational Efficiency across Bacteria
Author Information
Author(s): Froula Jeffrey L., Francino M. Pilar
Primary Institution: Evolutionary Genomics Program, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California, United States of America
Hypothesis
Natural selection for the optimization of gene expression regulates the distribution of DNA motifs capable of RNAP-binding across bacterial genomes.
Conclusion
The study shows that selection against spurious promoter motifs is significant in regulatory regions of bacterial genomes, which correlates with translational efficiency.
Supporting Evidence
- Selection against spurious binding is detectable in reduced genomes of host-restricted bacteria.
- High densities of σ70-binding sites are maintained in regulatory regions due to natural selection.
- Under-representation of potential σ70-binding sites in nonfunctional regions correlates with translational efficiency.
Takeaway
Bacteria try to avoid using wrong DNA signals that could waste energy and time when making proteins, especially in fast-growing species.
Methodology
The study analyzed the distribution of −10 promoter motifs in 42 bacterial genomes by comparing observed counts to expected occurrences based on base composition.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in the selection of bacterial species and the methods used for motif analysis could affect the results.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on bacterial genomes and may not be applicable to other organisms.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed 42 bacterial species from various phyla with differing lifestyles and growth rates.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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