In Vitro Evolution Reveals Noncationic Protein-RNA Interaction Mediated by Metal Ions.

ABSTRACT: RNA-peptide/protein interactions have been of utmost importance to life since its earliest forms, reaching even before the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). However, the ancient molecular mechanisms behind this key biological interaction remain enigmatic because extant RNA-protein interactions rely heavily on positively charged and aromatic amino acids that were absent (or heavily under-represented) in the early pre-LUCA evolutionary period. Here, an RNA-binding variant of the ribosomal uL11 C-terminal domain was selected from an approximately 1010 library of partially randomized sequences, all composed of ten prebiotically plausible canonical amino acids. The selected variant binds to the cognate RNA with a similar overall affinity although it is less structured in the unbound form t

SUBMITTER: Giacobelli VG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8892947 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature