Work

Nonenzymatic Template-Directed RNA Synthesis Inside Model Protocells

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Efforts to recreate a prebiotically plausible protocell, in which RNA replication occurs within a fatty acid vesicle, have been stalled by the destabilizing effect of Mg(2+) on fatty acid membranes. Here we report that the presence of citrate protects fatty acid membranes from the disruptive effects of high Mg(2+) ion concentrations while allowing RNA copying to proceed, while also protecting single-stranded RNA from Mg(2+)-catalyzed degradation. This combination of properties has allowed us to demonstrate the chemical copying of RNA templates inside fatty acid vesicles, which in turn allows for an increase in copying efficiency by bathing the vesicles in a continuously refreshed solution of activated nucleotides.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1241888

Authors: Katarzyna Adamala, Jack W. Szostak

Institutions: Roma Tre University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Origins and Evolution of Life

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Howard Hughes Medical Institute

OpenAlex ID: W2089644153

FWCI: 13.5

Cites: 16

Cited by: 365

Related to: 10