PMID: 8587114Dec 1, 1995Paper

Partition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in two different structural classes dating back to early metabolism: implications for the origin of the genetic code and the nature of protein sequences

Journal of Molecular Evolution
M Delarue

Abstract

We describe, on the molecular level, a possible fuzzy and primordial translation apparatus capable of synthesizing polypeptides from nucleic acids in a world containing a mixture of coevolving molecules of RNA and proteins already arranged in metabolic cycles (including cofactors). Close attention is paid to template-free systems because they are believed to be the immediate ancestors of this primordial translation apparatus. The two classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), as seen today, are considered as the remnants of such a simple imprecise translation apparatus and are used as guidelines for the construction of the model. Earlier theoretical work by Bedian on a related system is invoked to show how specificity and stability could have been achieved automatically and rather quickly, starting from such an imprecise system, i.e., how the encoded synthesis of proteins could have appeared. Because of the binary nature of the underlying proto-code, the first genetically encoded proteins would then have been alternating copolymers with a high degree of degeneracy, but not random. Indeed, a clear signal for alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues in present-day protein sequences can be detected. Later evolution of ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 29, 2000·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·M IbbaD Söll
Nov 3, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yaiza EspañolLluís Ribas de Pouplana
Nov 22, 2001·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C StathopoulosD Söll
Jun 8, 2011·PloS One·Assaf GottliebDavid Horn
Oct 19, 2011·Journal of Nucleic Acids·Kimitsuna Watanabe, Shin-Ichi Yokobori
Sep 12, 2014·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Richard Egel
Feb 25, 2014·Eukaryotic Cell·Savitha KalidasMargaret A Phillips
Mar 17, 2005·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·J Tze-Fei Wong
Feb 3, 2021·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Carmen Jiménez-EspinozaJosé Luis González-Mora
Aug 31, 2002·Journal of Theoretical Biology·David S Stevenson
Feb 20, 2002·Chemical Reviews·Mohamed A. MarahielHenning D. Mootz
Jan 22, 2000·Science·C StathopoulosD Söll

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