Novel Cell Receptor System of Eukaryotes Formed by Previously Unknown Nucleic Acid-Based Receptors

Abstract

Here, our data provide the first evidence for the existence of a previously unknown receptive system formed by novel DNA- and RNA-based receptors in eukaryotes. This system, named the TR-system, is capable of recognizing and generating a response to different environmental factors and has been shown to orchestrate major vital functions of fungi, mammalian cells, and plants. Recently, we discovered the existence of a similar regulatory system in prokaryotes. These DNA- and RNA-based receptors are localized outside of the membrane forming a type of a network around cells that responds to a variety of chemical, biological, and physical factors and enabled the TR-system to regulate major aspects of eukaryotic cell life as follows: growth, including reproduction and development of multicellular structures; sensitivity to temperature, geomagnetic field, UV, light, and hormones; interaction with viruses; gene expression, recognition and utilization of nutrients. The TR-system was also implicated in cell-memory formation and was determined to be responsible for its maintenance and the forgetting of preceding events. This system is the most distant receptive and regulatory system of the cell that regulates interactions with the outer environment and governs the functions of other receptor-mediated signaling pathways.

Novel prokaryotic system employing previously unknown nucleic acids-based receptors

“…Here, we describe for the first time the most external receptive system in bacteria, named the “TR-system,” which oversees various aspects of cell behavior, as well as cell memory. Such a universal receptive system, implicated in response to a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological factors, has not been described previously in prokaryotes; however, an identical system was recently discovered by our group in a variety of eukaryotic cells [ 45 ].…”

“…ligand-binding) part of such a protein receptors. If so, TezRs should be present within different proteins receptors and not specific only for histidine kinases of a two-component regulatory system in bacteria because the identical biological effects were observed following the destruction of TezRs on mammalian cells that are known to lack a two-component regulatory system [ 45 , 142 ].…”

“…Moreover, given the recently discovered ability of DNA molecules to modify and misfold proteins, it is intriguing whether TezRs could possess a similar chaperoning function [ 32 , 143 – 145 ]. Recently, we discovered the existence of a similar regulatory system in eukaryotes [ 45 ]. Overall, this study is the first research that demonstrates the existence of TR-system in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria which participates in recognition of environmental factors, remembering them and then obliterating the same.…”

“…Bacteria were treated with nucleases to remove primary TezRs or were similarly treated with water and 5.5 log10 CFU/mL were placed in 2-mL microcentrifuge tubes (Axygen Scientific Inc., Union City, CA, USA). Each tube was heated to 37,40,45,50,55,60,65,70 or 75 °C in a dry bath (LSETM Digital Dry Bath; Corning, Corning, NY, USA) for 15 min. After heating, control S. aureus were immediately treated with nucleases to delete primary TezRs, washed three times to remove nucleases, serially diluted, plated on LB agar, and the number of CFU was determined within 24 h.…”

“…The TR-system also includes transcriptases and recombinases. Recently, the identical TezRs were found on the surface of mammalian, fungal and plant cells [ 45 ].…”