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Related Experiment Videos

RNA-catalysed nucleotide synthesis

P J Unrau1, D P Bartel

  • 1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.

Nature
|September 29, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Early life may have used RNA to synthesize its own building blocks. Researchers discovered RNA molecules capable of catalyzing the creation of essential pyrimidine nucleotides, supporting the RNA world hypothesis.

Area of Science:

  • Origin of life studies
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular evolution

Background:

  • The 'RNA world' hypothesis suggests early life utilized RNA for catalysis.
  • Prebiotic synthesis of RNA nucleotides, particularly pyrimidines, remains a challenge.
  • Limited availability of RNA nucleotides on early Earth necessitates self-synthesis mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate RNA's potential to catalyze nucleotide synthesis.
  • To address the challenge of pyrimidine nucleotide formation in the RNA world.
  • To find RNA molecules that can synthesize pyrimidine nucleotides.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro selection was employed to isolate catalytic RNA molecules.
  • The selection process aimed to identify ribozymes catalyzing pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis.

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  • The study modeled reactions after contemporary pyrimidine metabolic pathways.

    • Main Results:

    • Specific RNA molecules were successfully isolated.
    • These isolated RNA molecules demonstrated catalytic activity in synthesizing a pyrimidine nucleotide.
    • The synthesis occurred at the 3' terminus of the RNA molecule.

    Conclusions:

    • RNA molecules can catalyze the synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides.
    • This catalytic ability supports the RNA world hypothesis.
    • Ribozyme-mediated metabolism, including nucleotide synthesis, was plausible in early life.