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Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Pergamon Press
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Pergamon Press

0079-6107

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology/Journal Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
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    Editorial for volume 169

    Noble D.
    2页

    Further illusions: On key evolutionary mechanisms that could never fit with Modern Synthesis

    Crkvenjakov R.Heng H.H.
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2021 Elsevier LtdIn light of illusions of the Modern Synthesis (MS) listed by Noble (2021a), MS's key concept, that gradual accumulation of gene mutations within microevolution leads to macroevolution, requires reexamination too. In this article, additional illusions of the MS are identified therein caused by the absence of system information and correct history. First, the MS lacks distinction among the two basic types of information: genome-defined system and gene-defined parts-information, as its treatment was based mostly on gene information. In contrast, it is argued here that system information is maintained by species-specific karyotype code, and macroevolution is based on the whole genome information package rather than on specific genes. Linking the origin of species with system information shows that the creation and accumulation of the latter in evolution is the fundamental question omitted from the MS. Second, modern evidence eliminates the MS's preferred theory that present evolutionary events can be linearly extrapolated to the past to reconstruct Life's history, wrongly assuming that most of the fossil record supports the gradual change while ignoring the true karyotype/genome patterns. Furthermore, stasis, as the most prominent pattern of the deep history of Life, remains a puzzle to the MS, but can be explained by the mechanism of karyotype-preservation-via-sex. Consequently, the concept of system-information is smoothly integrated into the two-phased evolutionary model that paleontology requires (Eldredge and Gould, 1972). Finally, research on genome-level causation of evolution, which does not fit the MS, is summarized. The availability of alternative concepts further illustrates that it is time to depart from the MS.

    Ionic channels in nerve membranes, 50 years on

    Hille B.
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2021 Elsevier LtdThis retrospective traces the hypothesis of ion channels from an early statement in a 1970 essay in this journal (Hille, B., 1970, Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 21, 1–32) to its realization today in biophysical, molecular, biochemical, and structural terms. The Na+ and K+ channels of the action potential have been isolated, reconstituted, cloned, mutated, and expressed. They are conformationally flexible, multi-pass glycosylated membrane proteins. Refined atomic structures of several conformational states are known. The discoveries over this half century history illustrate the growth of a field from initial ideas to a mature discipline of biology, physiology, and biomedical science.

    Inosine and its methyl derivatives: Occurrence, biogenesis, and function in RNA

    Dutta N.Deb I.Lahiri A.Sarzynska J....
    32页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier LtdInosine is one of the most common post-transcriptional modifications. Since its discovery, it has been noted for its ability to contribute to non-Watson-Crick interactions within RNA. Rapidly accumulating evidence points to the widespread generation of inosine through hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to inosine by different classes of adenosine deaminases. Three naturally occurring methyl derivatives of inosine, i.e., 1-methylinosine, 2′-O-methylinosine and 1,2′-O-dimethylinosine are currently reported in RNA modification databases. These modifications are expected to lead to changes in the structure, folding, dynamics, stability and functions of RNA. The importance of the modifications is indicated by the strong conservation of the modifying enzymes across organisms. The structure, binding and catalytic mechanism of the adenosine deaminases have been well-studied, but the underlying mechanism of the catalytic reaction is not very clear yet. Here we extensively review the existing data on the occurrence, biogenesis and functions of inosine and its methyl derivatives in RNA. We also included the structural and thermodynamic aspects of these modifications in our review to provide a detailed and integrated discussion on the consequences of A-to-I editing in RNA and the contribution of different structural and thermodynamic studies in understanding its role in RNA. We also highlight the importance of further studies for a better understanding of the mechanisms of the different classes of deamination reactions. Further investigation of the structural and thermodynamic consequences and functions of these modifications in RNA should provide more useful information about their role in different diseases.

    From leaves to roots: Biophysical models of transport of substances in plants

    Melkikh A.V.Sutormina M.I.
    31页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier LtdThe transport processes of substances in various plant tissues are extremely diverse. However, models aimed at elucidating the mechanisms of such processes are almost absent in the literature. A unified view of all these transport processes is necessary, considering the laws of statistical physics and thermodynamics. A model of active ion transport was constructed based on the laws of statistical physics. Using this model, we traced the entire pathway of substances and energy in a plant. The pathway included aspects of the production of energy in the process of photosynthesis, consumption of energy to obtain nutrients from the soil, transport of such substances to the main organelles of all types of plant cells, the rise of water with dissolved substances along the trunk to the leaves, and the evaporation of water, accompanied by a change in the percentage of isotopes caused by different rates of evaporation. Models of ion transport in the chloroplasts and mitochondria of plant cells have been constructed. A generalized model comprising plant cells and their vacuoles was analyzed. A model of the transport of substances in the roots of plants was also developed. Based on this model, the problem of transport of substances in tall trees has been considered. The calculated concentrations of ions in the vacuoles of cells and resting potentials agreed well with the experimental data.

    DNA microcircles - The promising tool for in vivo studies of the behavior of non-canonical DNA

    Vetcher A.A.Stanishevskiy Y.M.
    5页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier LtdThe paper discusses the reasons for the resurrection of the term DNA microcircles through the change of its definition to “topologically closed DNA circles with the length less than 1 Kbp” from the entire population of circular DNA that holds the name of minicircles. The possible applications of such tool for in vivo studies of non-canonical DNA are also discussed. Prospective for in vivo and in vitro studies of non-canonical DNA cloned into microcircles are demonstrated. A method of stepwise elongation or shortening of plasmids is discussed.

    The genetic control paradigm in biology: What we say, and what we are entitled to mean

    McKenna K.Z.Gawne R.Nijhout H.F.
    5页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier LtdWe comment on the article by Keith Baverstock (2021) and provide critiques of the concepts of genetic control, genetic blueprint and genetic program.

    Corrigendum to “A survey of pathways for mechano-electric coupling in the atria” [Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 159 (January 2021) 136–145] (Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (2021) 159 (136–145), (S0079610720300997), (10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.09.011))

    Varela M.Roy A.Lee J.
    1页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2020 The Author(s)The authors regret that the article included the wrong image in Fig. 5. This has now been amended. [Figure presented] The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

    Corrigendum to “The thermodynamics of protein aggregation reactions may underpin the enhanced metabolic efficiency associated with heterosis, some balancing selection, and the evolution of ploidy levels”[Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 126 (2017) 1–21] (Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology (2017) 126 (1–21), (S0079610717300019), (10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.01.005))

    Ginn B.R.
    1页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2017 Elsevier LtdThe authors regret that the axes in Fig. 5a were mislabeled. The y-axis should read “Relative Fitness” and the x-axis should read “Heterozygosity.” Please note that these labels are the same as the labels used in Fig. 5b and 5c. Also, the first sentence in the last paragraph of Section 3.1 should read “Since Equation (5) predicts that the rate of soluble oligomer addition increases with decreasing heterozygosity, the above model predicts that viability should decrease with [decreasing] heterozygosity under a given set of environmental conditions”. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.