Competition between bridged dinucleotides and activated mononucleotides determines the error frequency of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension.

ABSTRACT: Nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates with activated nucleotides is a useful model for studying the emergence of heredity at the origin of life. Previous experiments with defined-sequence templates have pointed to the poor fidelity of primer extension as a major problem. Here we examine the origin of mismatches during primer extension on random templates in the simultaneous presence of all four 2-aminoimidazole-activated nucleotides. Using a deep sequencing approach that reports on millions of individual template-product pairs, we are able to examine correct and incorrect polymerization as a function of sequence context. We have previously shown that the predominant pathway for primer extension involves reaction with imidazolium-bridged dinucleotides, which form spontaneously by the reacti

SUBMITTER: Duzdevich D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8053118 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature