Amino Acid Specific Nonenzymatic Montmorillonite‐Promoted RNA Polymerization. Issue 3 (27th January 2021) - Namani, Trishool
Abstract: Understanding prebiotic RNA synthesis is essential to both the RNA world and RNA‐protein co‐evolution theories of the origin of life. Nonenzymatic templated RNA synthesis occurs in solution or by montmorillonite clay heterogenous catalysis but the high magnesium concentrations required are deleterious to protocell membranes. Here, we explore a multicomponent environmental system consisting of amino acids, RNA mononucleotides and montmorillonite at various Mg 2+ concentrations. We show that specific alpha amino acids, especially those that were prebiotically most relevant, act as prebiotic coenzymes and further enhance montmorillonite‐catalyzed polymerization in a cooperative mechanism to produce even longer RNA oligomers. Significantly, and different from template‐directed nonenzymatic RNA polymerization by primer extension, added Mg 2+ is not required for montmorillonite‐catalyzed polymerization, especially as enhanced by specific amino acids. Thus amino acid specific montmorillonite‐catalyzed RNA polymerization is compatible with protocell membranes and could occur in a wider variety of geochemical environments of various Mg 2+ concentrations. Abstract : Let's work together : A multicomponent environmental system consisting of amino acids, RNA mononucleotides and montmorillonite at various Mg 2+ concentrations is reported. We show that specific alpha amino acids, especially those that were prebiotically most relevant, act as prebiotic coenzymes and further enhance montmorillonite‐catalyzed polymerization in a cooperative mechanism to produce even longer RNA oligomers than the clay alone.