Modeling prebiotic catalysis with nucleic acid-like polymers and its implications for the proposed RNA world

2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 2085-2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Srivatsan
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Rna World ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Polymerization Process ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Catalytic Material ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
Prebiotic Catalysis

The theory that RNA molecules played a pivotal role in the early evolution of life is now widely accepted. Studies related to this hypothetical “RNA world” include three major areas: the formation of precursors for the first RNA molecules, the polymerization process, and the potential of RNA to catalyze chemical and biochemical reactions. Several chemical and biochemical studies performed under simulated prebiotic conditions support the role of RNA as both genetic as well as catalytic material. However, owing to the lack of credible mechanism for de novo nucleic acid synthesis and the hydrolytic instability of RNA molecules, there has been some serious discussion of whether biopolymers that closely resembled nucleic acid preceded the “RNA world”. In this context, an overview of prebiotic chemistry, the role of mineral surface, and the significance of studies related to RNA-like polymers in the origin of life are presented here.

scholarly journals Role of Folic Acid and Energy Intake in Nucleic Acid Synthesis

1959 ◽  
Vol 234 (3) ◽  
pp. 625-627
Author(s):  
Ranjan Mehta ◽  
David A. Vaughan ◽  
Shreepad R. Wagle ◽  
Kendall D. Barbee ◽  
S.P. Mistry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Nucleic Acid Synthesis

Life, origin of

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenny Moss
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Rna World ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Spontaneous Generation ◽  
Amino Acid Synthesis ◽  
Evolving Systems ◽  
Single Origin ◽  
Terrestrial Life

The appearance of maggots on meat or of intestinal tapeworms supported an ancient belief in the spontaneous generation of life. This idea was challenged in the seventeenth century but not abandoned before Pasteur’s experiments. Scientists now agree that terrestrial life had a single origin, but differ in explanations. Some believe that life began with the onset of protein-based metabolism, supported by evidence of spontaneous abiotic amino acid synthesis and theoretical models of self-sustaining and evolving systems of enzymes. Others believe life began with the appearance of nucleic acid-based molecular replicators and have organized their research efforts around the vision of a primordial ‘RNA world’.

Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis caused by X-irradiation of the nucleolus

1960 ◽  
Vol 152 (948) ◽  
pp. 387-396 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Nucleic Acid Synthesis ◽  
Effective Diameter ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Narrow Beam ◽  
Equal Dose ◽  
X Irradiation

Living cells grown in tissue culture have been irradiated with a narrow beam of soft X-rays of effective diameter 2·5 μ. The method has been used in conjunction with quantitative ultra-violet photomicrography to investigate the role of the nucleolus in nucleic acid synthesis. The results show that X-irradiation of the nucleolus reduces the amount of nucleic acid synthesized in the nucleus when measured 3 to 7 h after irradiation, whereas X-irradiation of the nuclear sap with an equal dose does not show this effect. The significance of this is discussed.

scholarly journals Thirty-five years of research into ribozymes and nucleic acid catalysis: where do we stand today?

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Müller ◽  
Bettina Appel ◽  
Darko Balke ◽  
Robert Hieronymus ◽  
Claudia Nübel
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Rna World ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Catalytic Rna ◽  
Rna Motifs ◽  
Bioinformatic Approaches ◽  
Catalytic Mechanisms ◽  
Genomic Locations ◽  
Selection Of

Since the discovery of the first catalytic RNA in 1981, the field of ribozyme research has developed from the discovery of catalytic RNA motifs in nature and the elucidation of their structures and catalytic mechanisms, into a field of engineering and design towards application in diagnostics, molecular biology and medicine. Owing to the development of powerful protocols for selection of nucleic acid catalysts with a desired functionality from random libraries, the spectrum of nucleic acid supported reactions has greatly enlarged, and importantly, ribozymes have been accompanied by DNAzymes. Current areas of research are the engineering of allosteric ribozymes for artificial regulation of gene expression, the design of ribozymes and DNAzymes for medicinal and environmental diagnostics, and the demonstration of RNA world relevant ribozyme activities. In addition, new catalytic motifs or novel genomic locations of known motifs continue to be discovered in all branches of life by the help of high-throughput bioinformatic approaches. Understanding the biological role of the catalytic RNA motifs widely distributed in diverse genetic contexts belongs to the big challenges of future RNA research.

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