Hypothesis: Spontaneous Advent of the Prebiotic Translation System via the Accumulation of L-Shaped RNA Elements.

ABSTRACT: The feasibility of self-assembly of a translation system from prebiotic random RNA chains is a question that is central to the ability to conceive life emerging by natural processes. The spontaneous materialization of a translation system would have required the autonomous formation of proto-transfer RNA (tRNA) and proto-ribosome molecules that are indispensable for translating an RNA chain into a polypeptide. Currently, the vestiges of a non-coded proto-ribosome, which could have only catalyzed the formation of a peptide bond between random amino acids, is consensually localized in the region encircling the peptidyl transferase center of the ribosomal large subunit. The work presented here suggests, based on high resolution structures of ribosomes complexed with messenger RNA (mRNA) and t

SUBMITTER: Agmon I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6321417 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature