Abstract
We describe the nonenzymatic ligation of RNA oligomers in water. Dimers and tetramers are formed in a time-, pH-, and temperature-dependent reaction. Ligation efficiency depends on oligonucleotide length and sequence and is strongly enhanced by adenine-based nucleotide cofactors. Ligation of short RNA fragments could have liberated the prebiotic polymerization systems from the thermodynamically demanding task of reaching a (pre)genetically meaningful size by stepwise addition of one precursor monomer at the time.
Highlights
The “genetic” meaning of such a minimal molecular information is intrinsically limited
We focus on the problem: if short RNA polymers form in a simple aqueous environment, does an intrinsic property of RNA exist that allows their spontaneous ligation, bypassing the mentioned difficulties?
Multimerization was observed by leaving ribo-oligonucleotides in water in the presence of an adenine-based nucleotide cofactor
Summary
The “genetic” meaning of such a minimal molecular information is intrinsically limited. Considering the crucial step of elongation, the limit to the formation of nucleic polymers endowed of (pre)genetic potential is established by the intrinsic instability of long polymeric forms. Polymer elongation by successive condensation steps adding one monomer at the time is not a likely mechanism for the accumulation of (pre)genetic information. For RNA, this analysis led to the conclusion that conditions exist in which the key bonds are more stable in the polymer than in the precursor monomer. In these conditions (water, temperature between 60 and 90 °C), the polymer is the fittest form [13, 15]. We focus on the problem: if short RNA polymers form in a simple aqueous environment, does an intrinsic property of RNA exist that allows their spontaneous ligation, bypassing the mentioned difficulties?
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