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Published on: August 14, 2018
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Prebiotic Iron Originates the Peptidyl Transfer Origin
Shin-Yi Lin1, Ying-Chi Wang1, Chiaolong Hsiao1
1Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|March 13, 2019
Summary
Early ribosomes may have used iron (Fe2+) microclusters for electron transfer in anoxic environments. These primordial Fe2+-microclusters could be crucial for the evolution of protein synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Astrobiology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Ribosomes synthesize proteins in all organisms, requiring metal cations for function.
- Early life (3.5-3.7 Ga) existed in anoxic environments with abundant soluble iron.
- Magnesium-microclusters (Mg2+-μc) are conserved in the large ribosomal subunit.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of iron (Fe2+) microclusters in early ribosome function.
- To explore the potential of rRNA fragments to catalyze electron transfer with Fe2+.
Main Methods:
- Utilized four rRNA fragments from Haloarcula marismortui 23S rRNA.
- Assembled rRNA fragments with Mg2+ and Fe2+ under anoxic conditions.
Main Results:
- rRNA fragments formed Fe2+-microclusters capable of catalyzing electron transfer.
- Fe2+-microclusters demonstrated catalytic activity in anoxic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Fe2+-microclusters in the ribosome may have used Fe2+ as a primordial cofactor for electron transfer.
- These findings suggest a potential role for Fe2+-microclusters in the early evolution of the ribosome.
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