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Cited by 79Origins and Evolution of LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

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Folding, Assembly, and Persistence: The Essential Nature and Origins of Biopolymers

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Runnels, Calvin M., Lanier, Kathryn A., Williams, Justin Krish, Bowman, Jessica C., Petrov, Anton S., Hud, Nicholas V., Williams, Loren Dean·2018·Journal of Molecular Evolution
DOI 10.1007/s00239-018-9876-2PMC PMC6267704
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Abstract

Life as we know it requires three basic types of polymers: polypeptide, polynucleotide, and polysaccharide. Here we evaluate both universal and idiosyncratic characteristics of these biopolymers. We incorporate this information into a model that explains much about their origins, selection, and early evolution. We observe that all three biopolymer types are pre-organized, conditionally self-complementary, chemically unstable in aqueous media yet persistent because of kinetic trapping, with chiral monomers and directional chains. All three biopolymers are synthesized by dehydration reactions that are catalyzed by molecular motors driven by hydrolysis of phosphorylated nucleosides. All three biopolymers can access specific states that protect against hydrolysis. These protected states are folded, using self-complementary interactions among recurrent folding elements within a given biopolymer, or assembled, in associations between the same or different biopolymer types. Self-association in a hydrolytic environment achieves self-preservation. Heterogeneous association achieves partner-preservation. These universal properties support a model in which life's polymers emerged simultaneously and co-evolved in a common hydrolytic milieu where molecular persistence depended on folding and assembly. We believe that an understanding of the structure, function, and origins of any given type of biopolymer requires the context of other biopolymers.

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  • Life in general uses three types of polymers: polynucleotides, polypeptides and polysaccharides.

    “Beyond DNA, life, in general, uses three types of polymers: polynucleotides, polypeptides and polysaccharides [120].”

    From Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems (2024) · cites this paper as [120]

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Metadata

Authors
Runnels, C. M., Lanier, K. A., Williams, J. K., Bowman, J. C., Petrov, A. S., Hud, N. V., & Williams, L. D.
Affiliations
Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
Williams, Loren Dean
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Molecular Evolution
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-11-19
Volume
86
Issue
9
Pages
598-610
ISSN
  • 0022-2844 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1432
DOI
10.1007/s00239-018-9876-2
PMC
PMC6267704
OpenAlex
W2901803850
Cited by
79
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4
FWCI
2.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Molecular Evolution (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NNX16AJ28G and NNX16AJ29G)
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 › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Keywords
origin of life, biopolymers, polypeptides, polynucleotides, polysaccharides, kinetic trapping, molecular motors, chiral monomers, polymer folding, polymer self-assembly, early evolution of life
MeSH terms
Animals, Biopolymers, Catalysis, Humans, Peptides, Polymers, Polynucleotides, Polysaccharides, Protein Folding, RNA Folding

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