Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
BMC Biol. 2019 Jan 30;17(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12915-018-0621-5.
Photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation became evolutionarily immutable as "frozen metabolic accidents" because multiple interactions between the proteins and protein complexes involved led to their co-evolution in modules. This has impeded their adaptation to an oxidizing atmosphere, and reconfiguration now requires modification or replacement of whole modules, using either natural modules from exotic species or non-natural proteins with similar interaction potential. Ultimately, the relevant complexes might be reconstructed (almost) from scratch, starting either from appropriate precursor processes or by designing alternative pathways. These approaches will require advances in synthetic biology, laboratory evolution, and a better understanding of module functions.
光合作用和固氮作用成为了“固定代谢事故”，在进化上是不变的，因为涉及的蛋白质和蛋白质复合物之间的多重相互作用导致它们在模块中共同进化。这阻碍了它们对氧化气氛的适应，现在的重新配置需要修改或替换整个模块，使用来自外来物种的天然模块或具有相似相互作用潜力的非天然蛋白质。最终，相关的复合物可能会从头开始（几乎）重建，要么从适当的前体过程开始，要么通过设计替代途径。这些方法将需要在合成生物学、实验室进化和更好地理解模块功能方面取得进展。
