Abstract
It is commonly thought that in the early development of life on this planet RNA would have acted both as a store of genetic information and as a catalyst. While a number of RNA enzymes are known in contemporary cells, they are largely confined to phosphoryl transfer reactions, whereas an RNA based metabolism would have required a much greater chemical diversity of catalysis. Here we discuss how RNA might catalyze a wider variety of chemistries, and particularly how information gleaned from riboswitches could suggest how ribozymes might recruit coenzymes to expand their chemical range. We ask how we might seek such activities in modern biology. This article is categorized under: RNA-Based Catalysis > Miscellaneous RNA-Catalyzed Reactions Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Riboswitches RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics and Chemistry.
Highlights
For billions of years, protein enzymes have catalyzed the vast majority of chemical reactions that constitute the metabolism of cells
While a number of RNA enzymes are known in contemporary cells, they are largely confined to phosphoryl transfer reactions, whereas an RNA based metabolism would have required a much greater chemical diversity of catalysis
We discuss how RNA might catalyze a wider variety of chemistries, and how information gleaned from riboswitches could suggest how ribozymes might recruit coenzymes to expand their chemical range
Summary
Citation for published version (APA): Wilson, T. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim
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