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Related Concept Videos

From DNA to Protein03:06

From DNA to Protein

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The flow of genetic information in cells from DNA to mRNA to protein is described by the central dogma, which states that genes specify the sequence of mRNAs, which in turn specify the sequence of amino acids making up all proteins. The decoding of one molecule to another is performed by specific proteins and RNAs. Because the information stored in DNA is so central to cellular function, it makes intuitive sense that the cell would make mRNA copies of this information for protein synthesis...
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Within a biological system, the DNA encodes the RNA, and the nucleotide sequence in the RNA further defines the amino acid sequence in the protein. This is referred to as “The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology” - a term coined by Francis Crick.  Central dogma is a firm principle in biology that defines the flow of genetic information within any life form. The two fundamental steps in central dogma are - transcription and translation.
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Initiation of Translation02:33

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Initiating translation is complex because it involves multiple molecules. Initiator tRNA, ribosomal subunits, and eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) are all required to assemble on the initiation codon of mRNA. This process consists of several steps that are mediated by different eIFs.
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During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
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Ribosomes01:27

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Ribosomes translate genetic information encoded by messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have ribosomes. Cells that synthesize large quantities of protein—such as secretory cells in the human pancreas—can contain millions of ribosomes.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Residue-specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids into Model Proteins Using an Escherichia coli Cell-free Transcription-translation System
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Residue-specific Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids into Model Proteins Using an Escherichia coli Cell-free Transcription-translation System

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Reflections on the Origin of Coded Protein Biosynthesis.

Juan Carlos Fontecilla-Camps1

  • 1Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS Metalloproteins Unit, F-38000 Grenoble, France.

Biomolecules
|May 24, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Primordial life

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Origin of Life Studies
  • Molecular Evolution

Background:

  • The emergence of life involved the development of complex biochemical pathways.
  • Protein synthesis is a fundamental process, crucial for life's origins.
  • Key catalysts in protein synthesis include DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and ribosomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the catalytic mechanisms of primordial biocatalysts.
  • To explore the principle of continuity in the evolution of biological systems.
  • To understand the role of substrate-assisted catalysis in early life.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of structural and functional studies of key biocatalysts.
  • Examination of the chemical properties of nucleotidic components.
Keywords:
RNA polymeraseaminoacyl-tRNA synthetaseentropic trapribosomesubstrate-assisted catalysis

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  • Investigation of substrate binding modes and their impact on reaction kinetics.

    • Main Results:

    • Primordial biocatalysts lack chemically active groups, relying on substrate-assisted catalysis.
    • Substrates form an 'entropy trap,' lowering activation entropy and excluding water.
    • Reactions catalyzed by these mechanisms are simpler than modern enzymatic reactions.

    Conclusions:

    • Substrate-assisted catalysis and entropy trapping explain the efficiency of early biocatalysts.
    • The complementary reactivity of β-d-ribose and phosphate likely led to their selection for early coding polymers.
    • These findings support the principle of continuity in the evolution of biological catalysis.