Non‐Enzymatic Assembly of a Minimized RNA Polymerase Ribozyme
Open accessAbstract
Central to the “RNA world” hypothesis of the origin of life is the emergence of an RNA catalyst capable of RNA replication. However, possible replicase ribozymes are quite complex and were likely predated by simpler non‐enzymatic replication reactions. The templated polymerisation of phosphorimidazolide (Imp) activated ribonucleotides currently appears as the most tractable route to both generate and replicate short RNA oligomer pools from which a replicase could emerge. Herein we demonstrate the rapid assembly of complex ribozymes from such Imp‐activated RNA fragment pools. Specifically, we show assembly of a newly selected minimal RNA polymerase ribozyme variant (150 nt) by RNA templated ligation of 5’‐2‐methylimidazole‐activated RNA oligomers <30 nucleotides long. Our results provide support for the possibility that complex RNA structures could have emerged from pools of activated RNA oligomers and outlines a path for the transition from non‐enzymatic/chemical to enzymatic RNA replication.
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A polymer longer than 40-100 nucleotides is necessary to expect a self-replicating activity.
“A polymer longer than 40–100 nucleotides is necessary to expect a self-replicating activity, but the formation of such a long polymer having a correct nucleotide sequence by random reactions seems statistically unlikely.”
From Emergence of life in an inflationary universe (2020) · cites this paper as [12]
The paper’s Abstract describes replicase ribozymes as complex and reports a functional 150-nucleotide RNA polymerase ribozyme. It does not establish that a polymer longer than 40–100 nucleotides is necessary for self-replication, nor does it quantify the statistical likelihood of forming a correct sequence through random reactions. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRNA polymerase ribozymes produced by in vitro experiments so far have a length longer than 100 nt.
“RNA polymerase ribozymes produced by in vitro experiments so far have a length longer than 100 nt10–12.”
From Emergence of life in an inflationary universe (2020) · cites this paper as [12]
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References 34 · Cited by 46
Research works printed but not linked: 18
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- Authors
- Wachowius, F., & Holliger, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Groningen (NL)
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Holliger, Philipp
- Venue
- ChemSystemsChem
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-02-20
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 1-4
- ISSN
- 2570-4206 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6823052
- OpenAlex
- W2918005410
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 3.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- ChemSystemsChem (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Simons Foundation (293387)
- Medical Research Council (U105178804)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Keywords
- RNA world, origin of life, RNA catalysis
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