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Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
Published on: February 25, 2011
The origin of the tRNA molecule: implications for the origin of protein synthesis
1International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Adriano Buzzati Traverso, CNR, Via G Marconi 10, Naples, Napoli 80125, Italy. digiulio@iigb.na.cnr.it
Abstract:
A model for tRNA molecule origin is discussed. The model postulates that this molecule originated simply by direct duplication (and subsequent evolution) of a gene coding for an RNA hairpin structure, which can thus be hypothesized as the evolutionary precursor of the tRNA molecule. The main properties are defined for these hairpin structures and it is suggested that these structures might have housed, near their 3' end, anticodons that were transferred to the loop of the tRNA anticodon during duplication of the hairpin structures. Moreover, the main characteristics are given for the evolutionary intermediary formed by direct duplication of the hairpin structure, i.e. the double hairpin. The evolutionary stages envisaged by this model for tRNA origin seem to naturally imply some evolutionary transitions through which the origin of protein synthesis passed. Finally, some strong historical evidence is provided to corroborate the model.
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