Footprints of a Singular 22-Nucleotide RNA Ring at the Origin of Life.
Biology (Basel)
; 9(5)2020 Apr 25.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32344921
ABSTRACT
(1) Background:
Previous experimental observations and theoretical hypotheses have been providing insight into a hypothetical world where an RNA hairpin or ring may have debuted as the primary informational and functional molecule. We propose a model revisiting the architecture of RNA-peptide interactions at the origin of life through the evolutionary dynamics of RNA populations. (2)Methods:
By performing a step-by-step computation of the smallest possible hairpin/ring RNA sequences compatible with building up a variety of peptides of the primitive network, we inferred the sequence of a singular docosameric RNA molecule, we call the ALPHA sequence. Then, we searched for any relics of the peptides made from ALPHA in sequences deposited in the different public databases. (3)Results:
Sequence matching between ALPHA and sequences from organisms among the earliest forms of life on Earth were found at high statistical relevance. We hypothesize that the frequency of appearance of relics from ALPHA sequence in present genomes has a functional necessity. (4)Conclusions:
Given the fitness of ALPHA as a supportive sequence of the framework of all existing theories, and the evolution of Archaea and giant viruses, it is anticipated that the unique properties of this singular archetypal ALPHA sequence should prove useful as a model matrix for future applications, ranging from synthetic biology to DNA computing.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Biology (Basel)
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia