AFM Images of Viroid-Sized Rings That Self-Assemble from Mononucleotides through Wet-Dry Cycling: Implications for the Origin of Life
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AFM Images of Viroid-Sized Rings That Self-Assemble from Mononucleotides through Wet-Dry Cycling : Implications for the Origin of Life. / Hassenkam, Tue; Damer, Bruce; Mednick, Gabriel; Deamer, David.
In: Life, Vol. 10, No. 12, 321, 2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - AFM Images of Viroid-Sized Rings That Self-Assemble from Mononucleotides through Wet-Dry Cycling
T2 - Implications for the Origin of Life
AU - Hassenkam, Tue
AU - Damer, Bruce
AU - Mednick, Gabriel
AU - Deamer, David
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - It is possible that early life relied on RNA polymers that served as ribozyme-like catalysts and for storing genetic information. The source of such polymers is uncertain, but previous investigations reported that wet-dry cycles simulating prebiotic hot springs provide sufficient energy to drive condensation reactions of mononucleotides to form oligomers. The aim of the study reported here was to visualize the products by atomic force microscopy. In addition to globular oligomers, ring-like structures ranging from 10-200 nm in diameter, with an average around 30-40 nm, were abundant, particularly when nucleotides capable of base pairing were present. The thickness of the rings was consistent with single stranded products, but some had thicknesses indicating base pair stacking. Others had more complex structures in the form of short polymer attachments and pairing of rings. These observations suggest the possibility that base-pairing may promote polymerization during wet-dry cycling followed by solvation of the rings. We conclude that RNA-like rings and structures could have been synthesized non-enzymatically on the prebiotic Earth, with sizes sufficient to fold into ribozymes and genetic molecules required for life to begin.
AB - It is possible that early life relied on RNA polymers that served as ribozyme-like catalysts and for storing genetic information. The source of such polymers is uncertain, but previous investigations reported that wet-dry cycles simulating prebiotic hot springs provide sufficient energy to drive condensation reactions of mononucleotides to form oligomers. The aim of the study reported here was to visualize the products by atomic force microscopy. In addition to globular oligomers, ring-like structures ranging from 10-200 nm in diameter, with an average around 30-40 nm, were abundant, particularly when nucleotides capable of base pairing were present. The thickness of the rings was consistent with single stranded products, but some had thicknesses indicating base pair stacking. Others had more complex structures in the form of short polymer attachments and pairing of rings. These observations suggest the possibility that base-pairing may promote polymerization during wet-dry cycling followed by solvation of the rings. We conclude that RNA-like rings and structures could have been synthesized non-enzymatically on the prebiotic Earth, with sizes sufficient to fold into ribozymes and genetic molecules required for life to begin.
KW - origin of life
KW - RNA
KW - wet-dry cycle
KW - AFM
KW - viroid
KW - DNA
U2 - 10.3390/life10120321
DO - 10.3390/life10120321
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 33266191
VL - 10
JO - Life
JF - Life
SN - 2075-1729
IS - 12
M1 - 321
ER -
ID: 256272547