A fundamental problem in origins of life research is how the first polymers with the properties of nucleic acids were synthesized and incorporated into living systems on the prebiotic Earth. Here, we show that RNA-like polymers can be synthesized non-enzymatically from 5'-phosphate mononucleosides in salty environments. The polymers were identified and analyzed by gel electrophoresis, nanopore analysis, UV spectra, and action of RNases. The synthesis of phosphodiester bonds is driven by the chemical potential made available in the fluctuating hydrated and anhydrous conditions of hydrothermal fields associated with volcanic land masses.

Abstract. The RNA World hypothesis proposes that primitive forms of life used polymers resembling RNA both as catalysts and as carriers of genetic information. It has also been suggested that the origin of life occurred in hydrothermal conditions, but this implies that the ester bonds of nucleic acids are sufficiently stable to survive in aqueous conditions at elevated temperatures. Here, we summarize the results of experimental tests of RNA in simulated hydrothermal conditions in which stability is monitored at elevated temperatures and pressures. This perspective provides insight into the evolutionary pathway from small nucleotides to functional RNA molecules and the feasibility of RNA-based life. Simulation experiments of prebiotic RNA formationA major unsolved question in origins of life research concerns the process by which nucleic acids were first assembled and incorporated into the earliest forms of life. Substantial evidence supports the conjecture that the first living organisms passed through a phase in which RNA served both as a catalyst and as a carrier of genetic information [1][2][3][4]. However, it is still unclear how non-biological processes could have synthesized random polymers of RNA-like molecules as a first step toward living systems. The formation of RNA molecules is required not only for the accumulation of RNA but also for RNA to evolve biochemical functions.Several studies simulating the prebiotic conditions on the early Earth demonstrated that RNAlike molecules can be synthesized from chemically activated monomers. Because polymerization of nucleoside 5'-triphosphate is not efficient under these conditions, activated nucleoside 5'-monophosphorimidazolides were used instead, both in the presence and absence of a polynucleotide template [5][6][7][8] (Fig. 1). The formation of oligonucleotides proceeds from the activated nucleotide monomers in the presence of a metal ion catalyst [6] or a clay mineral catalyst [7]. The formation of oligonucleotides in the presence of such prebiotic catalysts leads to the production of oligomers as a Corresponding

The present review provides a comprehensive discussion of the prebiotic, anti‐diabetic, anti‐colorectal cancer, and anti‐cardiovascular disease effects of unripe banana flour resistant starch (BFRS). Unripe banana flour is considered a useful ingredient in the food industry because it has high levels of resistant starch (up to 68% w/w). The beneficial effects of BFRS against diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer emanate from its resistance to hydrolysis and propensity to escape digestion in the upper‐gastrointestinal tract, which delays glucose absorption and increases the concentration of colonic short‐chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Therefore, BFRS can be recommended as an alternative functional ingredient in food products. However, more in vivo studies with BFRS should be conducted to ascertain the mechanisms that underly its beneficial effects and associated changes in the gut microbiome. The influence of other food product ingredients and food processing on BFRS efficacy and targeted production of specific short‐chain fatty acids in the colon, needs to be investigated to optimize its application.

Careful examination of the present metabolism and in vitro selection of various catalytic RNAs strongly support the RNA world hypothesis as a crucial step of the origins and early life evolution. Small functional RNAs were exposed from 10 March 2009 to 21 January 2011 to space conditions on board the International Space Station in the EXPOSE-R mission. The aim of this study was to investigate the preservation or modification properties such as integrity of RNAs after space exposition. The exposition to the solar radiation has a strong degradation effect on the size distribution of RNA. Moreover, the comparison between the in-flight samples, exposed to the Sun and not exposed, indicates that the solar radiation degrades RNA bases.

An essential question in studies on the origins of life is how nucleic acids were first synthesized and then incorporated into compartments about 4 billion years ago. A recent discovery is that guided polymerization within organizing matrices could promote a non-enzymatic condensation reaction allowing the formation of RNA-like polymers, followed by encapsulation in lipid membranes. Here, we used neutron scattering and deuterium labelling to investigate 5′-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) molecules captured in a multilamellar phospholipid matrix. The aim of the research was to determine and compare how mononucleotides are captured and differently organized within matrices and multilamellar phospholipid structures and to explore the role of water in organizing the system to determine at which level the system becomes sufficiently anhydrous to lock the AMP molecules into an organized structure and initiate ester bond synthesis. Elastic incoherent neutron scattering experiments were thus employed to investigate the changes of the dynamic properties of AMP induced by embedding the molecules within the lipid matrix. The influence of AMP addition to the lipid membrane organization was determined through diffraction measurement, which also helped us to define the best working Q range for dynamical data analysis with respect to specific hydration. The use of different complementary instruments allowed coverage of a wide time-scale domain, from ns to ps, of atomic mean square fluctuations, providing evidence of a well-defined dependence of the AMP dynamics on the hydration level.

miRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, play a role in post-transcriptional gene expression. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review of miRNAs associated with GDM to build a panel of miRNAs. A bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science, and EMBASE databases, selecting observational studies in English without time restriction. The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform (number CRD42021291791). Fifty-five studies were included in this systematic review, and 82 altered miRNAs in GDM were identified. In addition, four miRNAs were most frequently dysregulated in GDM (mir-16-5p, mir-20a-5p, mir-222-3p, and mir-330-3p). The dysregulation of these miRNAs is associated with the mechanisms of cell cycle homeostasis, growth, and proliferation of pancreatic β cells, glucose uptake and metabolism, insulin secretion, and resistance. On the other hand, identifying miRNAs associated with GDM and elucidating its main mechanisms can assist in the characterization and definition of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of GDM.

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Este artigo apresenta o emprego de uma plataforma de IoT em maquetes nocontexto da Indústria 4.0. O objetivo é disseminar a IoT como uma das tecnologiashabilitadoras da Indústria 4.0 e demonstrar que adequar às indústrias a este novoparadigma também pode ser acessível às PMEs. Através de simulações dosprocessos industriais nas maquetes, busca-se o entendimento e a proposição desoluções tecnológicas adequadas às PMEs. Realiza-se isso com a utilização deplataformas IoT em cenários industriais controlados, os Testbeds. Esta pesquisautiliza duas maquetes com arquiteturas diferentes, uma baseada emmicrocontrolador e outra baseada em Controlador Lógico Programável.