Emergence of ATP- and GTP-Binding Aptamers from Single RNA Sequences by Error-Prone Replication and Selection.

ABSTRACT: The spontaneous emergence of function from diverse RNA sequence pools is widely considered an important transition in the origin of life. Here we show that diverse sequence pools are not a prerequisite for the emergence of function. Starting five independent selection experiments each from a single RNA seed sequence - comprising a central homopolymeric poly-A (or poly-U) segment flanked by different conserved primer binding sites - we observe transformation (continuous drift) of the seeds into low diversity sequence pools by mutation, truncation and recombination without ever reaching that of a random pool even after 24 rounds. Upon continuous error prone replication and selection for ATP binding we isolate specific ATP- or GTP-binding aptamers with low micromolar affinities. Our results h

SUBMITTER: Wachowius F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7615363 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature