L. Aravind
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L. Aravind is a scientist who is known for several computational studies on the evolution of proteins [1]. In particular he and his group have made many forays in understanding the emergence of multicellularity, the evolution of DNA replication and repair, RNA metabolism and the natural history of P-loop ATPases, one of the largest groups of enzymes in cellular life forms.
Some of his major achievements include:
- The discovery of the common origin of topoisomerases, DnaG-type primases, the OLD-type nucleases and the RecR family of DNA repair proteins.
- The recognition of the importance of the AT-hook as an important DNA-binding motif in chromosomal protein-DNA interactions
- Discovery of the Helix-Extension-Helix domain, which is involved in DNA- and RNA- protein interactions and involved in the tethering of chromosomes to the nuclear membrane.
- He was the first to formulate and propose (along with E.V. Koonin) the theory of the two independent origins of DNA replication systems that are used by bacteria and the archaeo-eukaryotic lineage.
- He defined the common origin of the archaeo-eukaryotic type DNA primases and the rolling circle replicator or RCR proteins, thus proposing a deep evolutionary link between the emergence of priming and topoisomerase like reactions in the evolution of DNA replication. He also identified the replicative primases of poxviruses, iridoviruses and phycodnaviruses.
- He and his group developed the idea that many of the critical eukaryotic developmental and signaling proteins including those involved in apoptosis have been derived through lateral transfer from bacteria. He generalized this as a theory that eukaryotic signaling complexity may be largely attributable to a common class of evolutionarily mobile proteins that have spread both in the developmentally complex bacteria and eukaryotes.
- He has presented the most comprehensive natural history of the helix-turn-helix (HTH) domain.
L Aravind currently works at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, USA.
