
lecture
Biomolecular Sciences
From Randomness to Function: de novo Proteins as a Source of Molecular and Cellular Innovation
Dr. Idan Frumkin
December 19, 2023
11:00
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12:00
How do novel genes emerge? While new genes often evolve from older ones, novelty can also originate from random sequences in a process termed "de novo gene birth". The functions of such de novo genes and how they integrate into complex cellular systems are poorly understood. By screening a library of 100 million random proteins with no sequence similarity to existing proteins, we identified thousands of functional proteins promoting E. coli survival against a toxin or a bacterial virus. Using genetic and biochemical tools, we characterized selected random proteins and revealed they integrate into pre-existing cellular pathways to mitigate cellular threats. Our work provides a mechanistic basis for understanding how de novo gene birth can yield functional proteins that effectively benefit cells evolving under stress.