biostudies-literatureSu MSimons FoundationMedical Research Council12857-12863https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11082893biostudies-literatureUnknown146(18)The ribosome brings 3'-aminoacyl-tRNA and 3'-peptidyl-tRNAs together to enable peptidyl transfer by binding them in two major ways. First, their anticodon loops are bound to mRNA, itself anchored at the ribosomal subunit interface, by contiguous anticodon:codon pairing augmented by interactions with the decoding center of the small ribosomal subunit. Second, their acceptor stems are bound by the peptidyl transferase center, which aligns the 3'-aminoacyl- and 3'-peptidyl-termini for optimal interaction of the nucleophilic amino group and electrophilic ester carbonyl group. Reasoning that intrinsic codon:anticodon binding might have been a major contributor to bringing tRNA 3'-termini into proximity at an early stage of ribosomal peptide synthesis, we wondered if primordial amino acids mightJournal of the American Chemical SocietyInitial Amino Acid:Codon Assignments and Strength of Codon:Anticodon Binding.PMC11082893MC_UP_A024_1009290362Sutherland JDSu MRoberts SJfalseInitial Amino Acid:Codon Assignments and Strength of Codon:Anticodon Binding.The ribosome brings 3'-aminoacyl-tRNA and 3'-peptidyl-tRNAs together to enable peptidyl transfer by binding them in two major ways. First, their anticodon loops are bound to mRNA, itself anchored at the ribosomal subunit interface, by contiguous anticodon:codon pairing augmented by interactions with the decoding center of the small ribosomal subunit. Second, their acceptor stems are bound by the peptidyl transferase center, which aligns the 3'-aminoacyl- and 3'-peptidyl-termini for optimal interaction of the nucleophilic amino group and electrophilic ester carbonyl group. Reasoning that intrinsic codon:anticodon binding might have been a major contributor to bringing tRNA 3'-termini into proximity at an early stage of ribosomal peptide synthesis, we wondered if primordial amino acids might2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 May2026-06-03T04:27:01.018Z2026-04-24T03:09:43.463ZS-EPMC110828933867665410.1021/jacs.4c03644