The origin of the tRNA molecule: implications for the origin of protein synthesis
Abstract
A model for tRNA molecule origin is discussed. The model postulates that this molecule originated simply by direct duplication (and subsequent evolution) of a gene coding for an RNA hairpin structure, which can thus be hypothesized as the evolutionary precursor of the tRNA molecule. The main properties are defined for these hairpin structures and it is suggested that these structures might have housed, near their 3' end, anticodons that were transferred to the loop of the tRNA anticodon during duplication of the hairpin structures. Moreover, the main characteristics are given for the evolutionary intermediary formed by direct duplication of the hairpin structure, i.e. the double hairpin. The evolutionary stages envisaged by this model for tRNA origin seem to naturally imply some evolutionary transitions through which the origin of protein synthesis passed. Finally, some strong historical evidence is provided to corroborate the model.
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The number of tRNAs and anticodons is smaller than the number of 64 codons, usually ranging between 35 and 45.
“This is why the number of tRNAs and, therefore, of anticodons is smaller than the number of 64 codons, usually ranging between 35 to 45 [76].”
From The Origin of Prebiotic Information System in the Peptide/RNA World: A Simulation Model of the Evolution of Translation and the Genetic Code (2019) · cites this paper as [76]
Cites
On the origin of the transfer RNA molecule
Giulio, M. D. (1992) · Journal of Theoretical Biology · doi:10.1016/s0022-5193(05)80702-7 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
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Wolf, Y. I., & Koonin, E. V. (2007) · Biology Direct · doi:10.1186/1745-6150-2-14 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
The RNA world as a model system to study the origin of life
Pressman, A., Blanco, C., & Chen, I. A. (2015) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.06.016 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Chatterjee, S., & Yadav, S. (2019) · Life · doi:10.3390/life9010025 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
“The double-hairpin model of the transfer RNAs (tRNA) formation, showing its evolutionary transitions [76,78,81].”
BackgroundInfluentialHow Amino Acids and Peptides Shaped the RNA World
Van der Gulik, P., & Speijer, D. (2015) · Life · doi:10.3390/life5010230 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
- Authors
- Di Giulio, M.
- Venue
- Journal of Theoretical Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-01
- Volume
- 226
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 89-93
- ISSN
- 0022-5193 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2006525704
- Cited by
- 93
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Theoretical Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Keywords
- origin of protein synthesis, RNA hairpin, gene duplication, anticodon, tRNA evolution, prebiotic evolution, RNA world
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Models, Genetic, RNA, RNA, Transfer, Protein Biosynthesis, Evolution, Molecular
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