A Step toward Molecular Evolution of RNA: Ribose Binds to Prebiotic Fatty Acid Membranes, and Nucleosides Bind Better than Individual Bases Do.
Chembiochem
; 21(19): 2764-2767, 2020 10 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32358921
ABSTRACT
A major challenge in understanding how biological cells arose on the early Earth is explaining how RNA and membranes originally colocalized. We propose that the building blocks of RNA (nucleobases and ribose) bound to self-assembled prebiotic membranes. We have previously demonstrated that the bases bind to membranes composed of a prebiotic fatty acid, but evidence for the binding of sugars has remained a technical challenge. Here, we used pulsed-field gradient NMR spectroscopy to demonstrate that ribose and other sugars bind to membranes of decanoic acid. Moreover, the binding of some bases is strongly enhanced when they are linked to ribose to form a nucleoside or - with the addition of phosphate - a nucleotide. This enhanced binding could have played a role in the molecular evolution leading to the production of RNA.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ribose
/
RNA
/
Evolução Química
/
Ácidos Decanoicos
/
Nucleosídeos
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Chembiochem
Assunto da revista:
BIOQUIMICA
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos