Spontaneous Formation of RNA Strands, Peptidyl RNA, and Cofactors

Abstract

How the biochemical machinery evolved from simple precursors is an open question. Here we show that ribonucleotides and amino acids condense to peptidyl RNAs in the absence of enzymes under conditions established for genetic copying. Untemplated formation of RNA strands that can encode genetic information, formation of peptidyl chains linked to RNA, and formation of the cofactors NAD+, FAD, and ATP all occur under the same conditions. In the peptidyl RNAs, the peptide chains are phosphoramidate-linked to a ribonucleotide. Peptidyl RNAs with long peptide chains were selected from an initial pool when a lipophilic phase simulating the interior of membranes was offered, and free peptides were released upon acidification. Our results show that key molecules of genetics, catalysis, and metabolism can emerge under the same conditions, without a mineral surface, without an enzyme, and without the need for chemical pre-activation.

The evolution of the genetic code: Impasses and challenges

“…As a first choice, the nucleotide should be adenine, and the amino acid attached through a phosphoramidate link. The phosphoramidate link forms as shown by Richert and co-workers (Jauker et al, 2015). Aminoacyl-AMP can also be formed with an anhydride link, as used in the activation of amino acids in contemporary metabolism.…”

“…Ribozymes could grab the adenine attached functional molecules through the adenine (Jadhav and Yarus, 2002;Saran et al, 2003). Adenine (AMP) seems to be the only among the four canonical bases that can easily form coenzymes (Jauker et al, 2015), by condensing with a functional molecule. Furthermore, not only nicotinamide mononucleotide or flavin mononucleotide can be condensed with AMP to yield the coenzyme NAD + and FAD, respectively, but peptides also condensate readily (Jauker et al, 2015).…”

“…Adenine (AMP) seems to be the only among the four canonical bases that can easily form coenzymes (Jauker et al, 2015), by condensing with a functional molecule. Furthermore, not only nicotinamide mononucleotide or flavin mononucleotide can be condensed with AMP to yield the coenzyme NAD + and FAD, respectively, but peptides also condensate readily (Jauker et al, 2015). adenine-conjugates could have been present in the primordial environment employed by the metabolism of the ribocells.…”

Bringing Prebiotic Nucleosides and Nucleotides Down to Earth

“…We should refrain from intuitively assuming that there is only "one way to RomeNA" ,a nd we are certain that with further progress in prebiotic systems chemistry,w here new synergies from mixing different prebiotic compound classes are being discovered, [15] organic chemists are looking into ab righter future than we have ever been able to imagine. [3] …”

Amino Acid‐Specific, Ribonucleotide‐Promoted Peptide Formation in the Absence of Enzymes

“…[23] [*] Dipl. [23] Angewandte Chemie Formation of peptido RNA from amino acids and ribonucleotides.…”