Cited by 114Origins and Evolution of LifeRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsEvolution and Genetic Dynamics

The dawn of the RNA World: toward functional complexity through ligation of random RNA oligomers

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Briones, Carlos, Stich, Michael, Manrubia, Susanna C.·2009·RNA

Abstract

A main unsolved problem in the RNA World scenario for the origin of life is how a template-dependent RNA polymerase ribozyme emerged from short RNA oligomers obtained by random polymerization on mineral surfaces. A number of computational studies have shown that the structural repertoire yielded by that process is dominated by topologically simple structures, notably hairpin-like ones. A fraction of these could display RNA ligase activity and catalyze the assembly of larger, eventually functional RNA molecules retaining their previous modular structure: molecular complexity increases but template replication is absent. This allows us to build up a stepwise model of ligation-based, modular evolution that could pave the way to the emergence of a ribozyme with RNA replicase activity, step at which information-driven Darwinian evolution would be triggered.

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Crossref · 10.1261/rna.1488609

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  • These first inefficient ribozymes could then 'jump-start' the evolution of sequences with greater function and complexity through natural selection, especially within a spatially restricted context.

    “These first inefficient ribozymes could then ‘jump-start’ the evolution of sequences with greater function and complexity through natural selection, especially within a spatially restricted context (44,63,68).”

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Authors
Briones, C., Stich, M., & Manrubia, S. C.
Affiliations
Centro de Astrobiología (ES)
Venue
RNA
Published
2009-03-24
Volume
15
Issue
5
Pages
743-749
ISSN
  • 1355-8382 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-9001
OpenAlex
W2127447806
Cited by
114
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 9
FWCI
2.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • RNA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Aston Publications Explorer (Aston University) (submittedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
Indian National Science Academy
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
RNA world, origin of life, RNA oligomers, mineral surfaces, ribozyme evolution, RNA replicase, hairpin structure, Darwinian evolution
MeSH terms
Origin of Life, Nucleic Acid Conformation, RNA, Catalytic, Evolution, Molecular, Inverted Repeat Sequences

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