Coding From Binding? Molecular Interactions at the Heart of Translation

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• DNA replication and transcription are explained by nucleic acid complementarity.
• The evolution of biological translation and the genetic code are not well understood.
• Existing theories often overlook weak, noncovalent interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review proposals on the evolution of translation.
• To explore parallels in theories involving noncovalent interactions.
• To focus on a recent hypothesis of mRNA-protein complementarity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of evolutionary proposals for biological translation.
• Analysis of theories focusing on macromolecular interactions.
• Examination of a specific hypothesis regarding unstructured mRNA and protein complementarity.

Main Results:

• Physicochemical complementarity explains DNA replication and transcription.
• The evolution of translation and the genetic code lack clear determinants.
• A recent proposal highlights potential complementarity between mRNA coding regions and unstructured proteins.
• This complementarity may stem from intrinsic nucleotide-amino acid binding propensities.

Conclusions:

• The evolution of the genetic code may be linked to unrecognized complementarity.
• This complementarity between mRNA and proteins offers a new perspective.
• The hypothesis provides a potential bridge between early and modern biological systems.