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Related Experiment Videos

RNA selectively interacts with vesicles depending on their size.

Chris F Thomas1, Pier Luigi Luisi

  • 1Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli studi Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|July 21, 2006
PubMed
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Transfer RNA (tRNA) selectively binds to and aggregates larger vesicles, but not smaller ones. This size-dependent interaction, reversible by RNase A, suggests RNA

Area of Science:

  • Origin of life studies
  • Prebiotic chemistry
  • Protocell formation

Background:

  • RNA and vesicles are key components in origin of life scenarios.
  • Interactions between RNA and lipid vesicles are not well-established.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for modeling early cellular evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between transfer RNA (tRNA) and model lipid vesicles.
  • To determine if vesicle size influences tRNA binding and subsequent aggregation.
  • To explore the potential role of RNA-vesicle interactions in protocell formation.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of zwitterionic 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) vesicles with cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Zeta-potential measurements to confirm CTAB insertion into vesicles.
  • Dynamic light scattering and optical density measurements to monitor vesicle size and aggregation.
  • RNase A treatment to assess the reversibility of aggregation.

    • Main Results:

    • Positively charged vesicles (POPC/CTAB) efficiently bind tRNA.
    • tRNA binding induces selective aggregation of larger vesicles (approx. 160 nm) but not smaller ones (approx. 80 nm).
    • The observed aggregation is fully reversible upon RNase A addition, confirming RNA's role.
    • This size-selective discrimination is maintained even in a mixture of vesicle populations.

    Conclusions:

    • RNA exhibits a size-selective interaction with charged lipid vesicles.
    • This size-dependent aggregation capability of RNA could have been significant for early protocell assembly.
    • The findings provide insights into potential mechanisms for compartmentalization in early life.