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Parallel adaptations to high temperatures in the Archaean eon

Author

Listed:
  • Bastien Boussau

    (Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne, France)

  • Samuel Blanquart

    (LIRMM, CNRS, 161 rue Ada, 34392 Montpellier, France)

  • Anamaria Necsulea

    (Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne, France)

  • Nicolas Lartillot

    (LIRMM, CNRS, 161 rue Ada, 34392 Montpellier, France
    Present address: Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal QC H3C3J7, Canada.)

  • Manolo Gouy

    (Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon I, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne, France)

Abstract

LUCA blows hot and cold There is a fascination about the quest to learn more about 'LUCA', the hypothetical last universal common ancestor from which all current living organisms are descended. Fossil evidence from the time, 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago, is sparse and so LUCA hunters rely on indirect evidence for information on LUCA's biology and environment. Reconstructions of ancestral protein sequences based on genetic evidence from extant genomes pointed to a hot environment, and a thermophilic LUCA. But ribosomal RNA sequences were thought consistent with a cooler environment. A new 'molecular thermometer' method may have resolved this apparent discrepancy. The analysis of rRNA and protein sequences from hundreds of modern species using the latest mathematical models of molecular evolution suggests that there were two phases of environmental temperature change. What was to become LUCA was first mesophilic, living in waters at about 60°C, then adapted to higher temperatures, above 70°C, to produce a thermophilic common ancestor. As the oceans then cooled the Bacteria and Archaea–Eukaryota diversified.

Suggested Citation

  • Bastien Boussau & Samuel Blanquart & Anamaria Necsulea & Nicolas Lartillot & Manolo Gouy, 2008. "Parallel adaptations to high temperatures in the Archaean eon," Nature, Nature, vol. 456(7224), pages 942-945, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:456:y:2008:i:7224:d:10.1038_nature07393
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07393
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    Cited by:

    1. Weishu Zhao & Bozitao Zhong & Lirong Zheng & Pan Tan & Yinzhao Wang & Hao Leng & Nicolas Souza & Zhuo Liu & Liang Hong & Xiang Xiao, 2022. "Proteome-wide 3D structure prediction provides insights into the ancestral metabolism of ancient archaea and bacteria," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Ross Corkrey & Tom A McMeekin & John P Bowman & David A Ratkowsky & June Olley & Tom Ross, 2014. "Protein Thermodynamics Can Be Predicted Directly from Biological Growth Rates," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-15, May.

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