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Prebiotic RNA synthesis

03.02.20 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Ribozymes specifically catalyze the formation of RNA linkages using prebiotic substrates containing 2-aminoimidazole (2AI).
Ribozymes specifically catalyze the formation of RNA linkages using prebiotic substrates containing 2-aminoimidazole (2AI). Credit: Image Courtesy of Travis Walton

Researchers report the identification of ribozymes--enzymatic RNA molecules--that use substrates activated by the prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole group of molecules, a result showing that nonenzymatic RNA synthesis during the origin of life on Earth may have coexisted with ribozyme-catalyzed RNA copying, according to the authors.

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Article #19-14367: "In vitro selection of ribozyme ligases that use prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole-activated substrates," by Travis Walton, Saurja DasGupta, Daniel Duzdevich, Seung Soo Oh, and Jack W. Szostak.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jack W. Szostak, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; e-mail: < szostak@molbio.mgh.harvard.edu >

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Additional Media

A nonenzymatic RNA copying reaction using substrates activated with 2-aminoimidazole (yellow) is catalyzed by ribozymes.
A nonenzymatic RNA copying reaction using substrates activated with 2-aminoimidazole (yellow) is catalyzed by ribozymes. Credit: Image Courtesy of Travis Walton

Keywords

Origins Of Life Ribozymes Rna Synthesis

Article Information

Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Contact Information

Jack W. Szostak
szostak@molbio.mgh.harvard.edu

How to Cite This Article

APA:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (2020, March 2). Prebiotic RNA synthesis. Brightsurf News. https://www.brightsurf.com/news/1ZZJXX71/prebiotic-rna-synthesis.html
MLA:
"Prebiotic RNA synthesis." Brightsurf News, Mar. 2 2020, https://www.brightsurf.com/news/1ZZJXX71/prebiotic-rna-synthesis.html.