Prebiotic factors influencing the activity of a ligase ribozyme

Prebiotic factors influencing the activity of a ligase ribozyme

Anella, F.M. (TU Delft BN/Christophe Danelon Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Danelon, C.J.A. (TU Delft BN/Christophe Danelon Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)

2017-06-01

An RNA-lipid origin of life scenario provides a plausible route for compartmentalized replication of an informational polymer and subsequent division of the container. However, a full narrative to form such RNA protocells implies that catalytic RNA molecules, called ribozymes, can operate in the presence of self-assembled vesicles composed of prebiotically relevant constituents, such as fatty acids. Hereby, we subjected a newly engineered truncated variant of the L1 ligase ribozyme, named tL1, to various environmental conditions that may have prevailed on the early Earth with the objective to find a set of control parameters enabling both tL1-catalyzed ligation and formation of stable myristoleic acid (MA) vesicles. The separate and concurrent effects of temperature, concentrations of Mg²⁺+, MA, polyethylene glycol and various solutes were investigated. The most favorable condition tested consists of 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM Mg²⁺, 5 mM MA, and 4 °C temperature, whereas the addition of Mg²⁺+-chelating solutes, such as citrate, tRNAs, aspartic acid, and nucleoside triphosphates severely inhibits the reaction. These results further solidify the RNA-lipid world hypothesis and stress the importance of using a systems chemistry approach whereby a wide range of prebiotic factors interfacing with ribozymes are considered.

Catalytic RNA
Fatty acid
Lipid vesicle
Origins of life
Protocell

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1b51ccfa-d57e-446e-94d5-a24716393ec0

https://doi.org/10.3390/life7020017

2075-1729

Life, 7 (2), 1-14

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2017 F.M. Anella, C.J.A. Danelon