C8570 Early Molecular Evolution

Faculty of Science
Spring 2013
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. Ing. Eduard Nikolajevič Trifonov, Ph.D. (lecturer), prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc.
National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc.
Supplier department: National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of molecular biology
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Four fundamentally novel, recent developments make a basis for the Theory of Early Molecular Evolution. The theory outlines the molecular events from the onset of the triplet code to the formation of the earliest sequence/structure/function modules of proteins. These developments are: 1) Reconstruction of the evolutionary chart of codons (1, 2); 2) Discovery of omnipresent protein sequence motifs, conserved since the last common ancestor (3, 4); 3) Discovery of closed loops - standard structural modules of modern proteins (5-7); 4) Construction of protein sequence space of module size fragments, with evolutionary implications (8, 9). The theory generates numerous predictions, confirmed by massive nucleotide and protein sequence analyses, such as existence of two distinct classes of amino acids, and their periodical distribution along the sequences . The emerging picture of the earliest molecular evolutionary events is outlined - consecutive engagement of codons, formation of the earliest short peptides, and growth of the polypeptide chains to the size of loop closure, 25-30 residues. Repertoire of the very first protein activities is outlined. The earliest closed loop modules are found to be associated with ATP synthesis and utilization. Ref. (10) is an extended summary of the course. 1. Trifonov, E. N., Gene 261, 139-151 (2000) 2. Trifonov, E. N., J Biomol Str Dyn 22, 1-11 (2004) 3. Sobolevsky, Y., Trifonov, E. N., J Mol Evol 61, 591-596 (2005) 4. Sobolevsky, Y., Trifonov, E. N., J Mol Evol 63, 622-634 (2006) 5. Berezovsky, I. N., Grosberg, A. Y., Trifonov, E. N., FEBS Letters 466, 283-286 (2000) 6. Berezovsky, I. N., Protein Engineering 16, 161-167 (2003) 7. Berezovsky, I. N., Kirzhner, A., Kirzhner, V. M., Trifonov, E. N., J. Biomol Str Dyn. 21, 327-339 (2003) 8. Frenkel, Z. M., Trifonov, E. N., J Theor Biol 244, 77-80 (2007) 9. Frenkel, Z. M., Trifonov, E. N., Proteins Str Function Bioinf, in press 10. Trifonov, E. N., Early molecular evolution, Isr J Ecol Evol in press At the end of the course, the students should be able to: Understand evolutionary chart of codons; Understand the theory of omnipresent protein sequence motifs; Understand standard structural modules of modern proteins; Understand construction of protein sequence space.
Syllabus
  • 1) Reconstruction of the evolutionary chart of codons (1, 2); 2) Discovery of omnipresent protein sequence motifs, conserved since the last common ancestor (3, 4); 3) Discovery of closed loops - standard structural modules of modern proteins (5-7); 4) Construction of protein sequence space of module size fragments, with evolutionary implications (8, 9).
Literature
  • 3. Sobolevsky, Y., Trifonov, E. N., J Mol Evol 61, 591-596 (2005)
  • 8. Frenkel, Z. M., Trifonov, E. N., J Theor Biol 244, 77-80 (2007)
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
Lectures will be given in English within a period of 14 working days (2-4 lessons per day). The course will be concluded by colloquium after the last lesson.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2014, Spring 2015.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2013, recent)
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