Selection of self-priming molecular replicators. Issue 5 (30th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Daechan; Ellington, Andrew D; Jung, Cheulhee
• Is Part Of: Nucleic acids research. Volume 47:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 2169
• Page End: 2176
• Publication Date: 2019-01-30
• Subjects: Nucleic acids -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-1048

Abstract

Abstract: Self-priming amplification of oligonucleotides is possible based on foldback of 3′ ends, self-priming, and concatemerization, especially in the presence of phosphorothioate linkages. Such a simple replicative mechanism may have led to the accumulation of specific replicators at or near the origin of life. To determine how early replicators may have competed with one another, we have carried out selections with phosphorothiolated hairpins appended to a short random sequence library (N10). Upon the addition of deoxynucleoside triphosphates and a polymerase, concatemers quickly formed, and those random sequences that templated the insertion of purines, especially during initiation, quickly predominated. Over several serial transfers, particular sequences accumulated, and in isolation these were shown to outcompete less efficient replicators.