The Origin of RNA and “My Grandfather’s Axe”

Hud, Nicholas V.; Cafferty, Brian J.; Krishnamurthy, Ramanarayanan; Williams, Loren Dean

doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.03.012

Cited by 197 publications

(229 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Hud and coworkers recently proposed an alternative scenario for nucleic acid polymerization and assembly [138]. Since the modern nucleotides do not base pair through hydrogen bonding in water, it is unclear how base pairing in nucleic acid polymers would have emerged.…”

Section: Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life

Grover

Hsieh

et al. 2015

Processes

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Atoms and molecules assemble into materials, with the material structure determining the properties and ultimate function. Human-made materials and systems have achieved great complexity, such as the integrated circuit and the modern airplane. However, they still do not rival the adaptivity and robustness of biological systems. Understanding the reaction and assembly of molecules on the early Earth is a scientific grand challenge, and also can elucidate the design principles underlying biological materials and systems. This research requires understanding of chemical reactions, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, optimization, and control. Thus, the discipline of chemical engineering can play a central role in advancing the field. In this paper, an overview of research in the origins field is given, with particular emphasis on the origin of biopolymers and the role of chemical engineering phenomena. A case study is presented to highlight the importance of the environment and its coupling to the chemistry.

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Section: Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life

Grover

Hsieh

et al. 2015

Processes

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“…Subsequently, during evolution of life, RNA has been evolved as a molecule more suitable for both information storage and enzymatic functions. Proponents of the primarily alternative backbone of nucleic acids, including N. Hud [78], argue that there is no simple way of ribonucleotide monomers synthesis under plausible prebiotic conditions, moreover RNA tend to be notoriously unstable especially under hydrothermal vents conditions: high temperatures and alkaline pH. Taking into account a very close nature, yet with somewhat different roles of partners, participated in the other transitions, I suggest here, that PNA or another backbone with similar properties might have been the first information polymer.…”

Section: On the Nature Of Nucleic Acid Partner In The First Transitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently apart from traditionally favorite ribonucleic acid (RNA World hypothesis [9][10][11]), threose nucleic acids, glycol nucleic acids, protein nucleic acids [77] (PNA) and nucleic acids with some other backbones [78] are considered among potential candidates for the first replicator molecules. Subsequently, during evolution of life, RNA has been evolved as a molecule more suitable for both information storage and enzymatic functions.…”

Section: On the Nature Of Nucleic Acid Partner In The First Transitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

It Takes Two to Evolve Too. The Hypothesis on Three Primary Communication Transitions in Evolution

Kovalev

2017

Preprint

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Abstract:Currently there is little doubt left on the symbiogenetic nature of eukaryotes -genomes of archaeon and bacterium participated in shaping a genome of last eukaryotic common ancestor in equal albeit asymmetric manner, while a merger event itself indicated the advent of a new domain of life. The "symbiogenetic" framework of interaction of two partners is proposed, outlining similar steps essential for three major advents: the origin of life, the origin of complex life and the origin of humans. Given the immense importance of proper energy source for the evolution of life it seems plausible that for any principal increase in complexity, a partnership with a novel energy donor is required. Moreover, a "language" elaborated in the course of communication of partners might have been a prerequisite for a subsequent increase in complexity. Transitions, which led to RNA-protein world, eukaryotes and human brain, resulted in advent of complex languages via communication onsets between two entities in close partnership. Accordingly this further facilitated formation of first cells, multicellular organisms and human society.

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“…8,9,18,21,22 These deceptive perceptions have made it appear impossible to recapitulate the origins of life under primitive conditions, and accordingly led some to advocate structurally simpler pre-RNA or 'XNA' Worlds, where the basic functions of life may have been accomplished by non-biological or pre-biological systems (that is, before the existence of RNA). [23][24][25] Contemplating the likelihood of an ostensibly simpler transition from prebiotic chemistry to 'XNA' (XNA being the supposed transient non-biological informational forerunner to RNA) is understandable when taking into consideration the historical difficulties of prebiotic ribonucleotide assembly. 8,9,26 Broadening the scope of prebiotic chemistry beyond those components that exist in extant life reduces the specific constraints on synthesizing any of these individual components.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prebiotic Systems Chemistry: Complexity Overcoming Clutter

Islam

Powner

2017

Chem

124

119

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SUMMARYLiving organisms are the most complex chemical system known to exist, yet exploit only a small constellation of universally conserved metabolites to support indefinite evolution. The conserved chemical simplicity belying biological diversity strongly indicates a unified origin of life. Thus, the chemical relationship between metabolites suggests that a simple set of predisposed chemical reactions predicated the appearance of life on Earth. Conversely, if prebiotic chemistry produces highly complex mixtures, this then implies that the feasibility of elucidating life's origins is an insurmountable task. Prebiotic systems chemistry, however, has recently been exploiting the chemical links between different metabolites to provide unprecedented scope for exploration of the origins of life, and an exciting new perspective on a 4 billion-year-old problem. At the heart of the systems approach is an understanding that individual classes of metabolites cannot be considered in isolation. This review highlights several recent advances suggesting that the canonical nucleotides and proteinogenic amino acids are predisposed chemical structures. KEYWORDSOrigins of life, prebiotic chemistry, systems chemistry, predisposed chemistry, RNA, nucleotides, amino acids, sugars, metabolism, crystallization. BIGGER PICTUREAdvancing our understanding of the spontaneous emergence of life requires innovation across scientific disciplines as broad as astrophysics to phylogenetics, yet the primacy of chemistry cannot be overestimated. Cellular life is a chemical system of awe-inspiring complexity yet, perhaps surprisingly, life exploits only a 2 small constellation of universally conserved metabolites working in concert to support indefinite evolution.The conserved chemical simplicity that belies biodiversity is a strong indication that a simple set of predisposed reactions predicated the sudden appearance of life on Earth. The wonder of nature's greatest feat of invention-the self-assembly of living cells-positions the origins of life as one of the greatest challenges in chemistry. Building chemical systems that can self-assemble, process information, control the transport and accumulation of chemicals, orchestrate reaction pathways, and ultimately self-replicate will no doubt have a major impact on evolving technology, but nature has had a 4 billion-year head start in implementing controlled chemical evolution, and the lessons to be learnt from its prior art merely await discovery. eTOCPrebiotic systems chemistry is providing unprecedented scope for exploring the origins of life and an exciting new perspective on a 4 billion-year-old problem. At the heart of this new systems approach is an understanding that individual classes of metabolites cannot be considered in isolation if the chemical origin of life on Earth is to be successfully elucidated. This review aims to highlight several recent advances that suggest the canonical nucleotides and proteinogenic amino acids are predisposed chemical structures.

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The Origin of RNA and “My Grandfather’s Axe”

Cited by 197 publications

References 64 publications

A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life

A Chemical Engineering Perspective on the Origins of Life

It Takes Two to Evolve Too. The Hypothesis on Three Primary Communication Transitions in Evolution

Prebiotic Systems Chemistry: Complexity Overcoming Clutter

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