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Non-enzymatic primer extension with strand displacement
Lijun Zhou1,2,3, Seohyun Chris Kim1,2,3, Katherine H Ho4
1Department of Molecular Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.
Elife
|November 9, 2019
Summary
Short RNA oligonucleotides can facilitate non-enzymatic RNA replication, a key step in the RNA World hypothesis. This method overcomes challenges in separating RNA strands for complete replication cycles.
Area of Science:
- Origin of Life Studies
- RNA Biochemistry
- Prebiotic Chemistry
Background:
- Non-enzymatic RNA self-replication is crucial for the RNA World hypothesis.
- A major hurdle is separating product duplex strands for complete replication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a prebiotic plausible method for RNA strand displacement and replication.
- To demonstrate a full cycle of non-enzymatic RNA replication.
Main Methods:
- Utilized short 'invader' oligonucleotides to unwind RNA duplexes via toehold/branch migration.
- Employed activated 3'-aminonucleotides as a proxy for ribonucleotides in primer extension.
- Conducted kinetic studies to analyze template partitioning during branch migration.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful strand displacement synthesis using invader oligonucleotides.
- Observed a 2:3 partition of the template between open and closed states after invader binding.
- Achieved continuous primer extension coupled with strand displacement.
Conclusions:
- Short RNA oligonucleotides can facilitate complete non-enzymatic RNA replication cycles.
- This mechanism offers a plausible pathway for the emergence of primordial genetic material.
- The study addresses a critical challenge in RNA World research.
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