Nonenzymatic Polymerization into Long Linear RNA Templated by Liquid Crystal Self-Assembly

Area of Science:

• Origin of Life studies
• Astrobiology
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• The emergence of complex biomolecules from abiotic precursors is a central question in origin of life research.
• Self-assembly and supramolecular organization are proposed mechanisms for concentrating and reacting simple molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the abiotic formation of phosphodiester bonds in RNA oligomers under varying supramolecular arrangements.
• To determine if RNA self-assembly influences ligation kinetics and product formation.

Main Methods:

• Studied RNA oligomer solutions under conditions promoting self-assembly and phase separation.
• Characterized the formation of liquid crystal (LC) microdomains.
• Quantitatively analyzed the kinetics of interchain phosphodiester bond formation and cyclic oligomerization.

Main Results:

• Identified conditions where RNA oligomers form ordered, liquid crystal (LC) fluid microdomains.
• Demonstrated that these RNA LC microdomains template end-to-end ligation, forming longer RNA chains.
• Showed that LC formation significantly enhances ligation rates while suppressing cyclic byproducts.

Conclusions:

• Supramolecular ordering of RNA oligomers into LC phases provides an efficient pathway for abiotic chain elongation.
• This mechanism supports the plausibility of the RNA World hypothesis on primordial Earth.
• Liquid crystal templating offers a novel perspective on prebiotic chemical evolution.