Circular at the very beginning: on the initial genomes in the RNA world.

IF 3.6 3区 生物学 Q2 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
RNA Biology Pub Date : 2024-01-01 Epub Date: 2024-07-17 DOI:10.1080/15476286.2024.2380130
Yufan Luo, Minglun Liang, Chunwu Yu, Wentao Ma
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

It is likely that an RNA world existed in early life, when RNA played both the roles of the genome and functional molecules, thereby undergoing Darwinian evolution. However, even with only one type of polymer, it seems quite necessary to introduce a labour division concerning these two roles because folding is required for functional molecules (ribozymes) but unfavourable for the genome (as a template in replication). Notably, while ribozymes tend to have adopted a linear form for folding without constraints, a circular form, which might have been topologically hindered in folding, seems more suitable for an RNA template. Another advantage of involving a circular genome could have been to resist RNA's end-degradation. Here, we explore the scenario of a circular RNA genome plus linear ribozyme(s) at the precellular stage of the RNA world through computer modelling. The results suggest that a one-gene scene could have been 'maintained', albeit with rather a low efficiency for the circular genome to produce the ribozyme, which required precise chain-break or chain-synthesis. This strict requirement may have been relieved by introducing a 'noncoding' sequence into the genome, which had the potential to derive a second gene through mutation. A two-gene scene may have 'run well' with the two corresponding ribozymes promoting the replication of the circular genome from different respects. Circular genomes with more genes might have arisen later in RNA-based protocells. Therefore, circular genomes, which are common in the modern living world, may have had their 'root' at the very beginning of life.

最初的循环:关于 RNA 世界中最初的基因组。
早期生命中很可能存在一个 RNA 世界,当时 RNA 同时扮演着基因组和功能分子的角色,从而经历了达尔文式的进化。然而,即使只有一种聚合物,似乎也有必要对这两种角色进行分工,因为折叠是功能分子(核糖酶)所必需的,但对基因组(作为复制模板)却不利。值得注意的是,核糖酶在折叠时往往采用线性形式,不受任何限制,而圆形形式在折叠时可能会受到拓扑学上的阻碍,似乎更适合 RNA 模板。采用环状基因组的另一个好处是可以抵御 RNA 的末端降解。在这里,我们通过计算机建模探讨了在 RNA 世界的细胞前阶段,圆形 RNA 基因组加上线性核糖酶的情况。结果表明,尽管环状基因组产生核糖酶的效率很低,需要精确的断链或合成链,但单个基因的场景可以 "维持 "下来。通过在基因组中引入 "非编码 "序列,这种严格的要求可能会得到缓解,因为该序列有可能通过突变产生第二个基因。双基因场景可能 "运行良好",两个相应的核糖酶从不同方面促进环状基因组的复制。具有更多基因的环状基因组可能是后来在以 RNA 为基础的原细胞中出现的。因此,现代生物界中常见的环状基因组可能在生命之初就有了 "根"。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
RNA Biology
RNA Biology 生物-生化与分子生物学
CiteScore
8.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
82
审稿时长
1 months
期刊介绍: RNA has played a central role in all cellular processes since the beginning of life: decoding the genome, regulating gene expression, mediating molecular interactions, catalyzing chemical reactions. RNA Biology, as a leading journal in the field, provides a platform for presenting and discussing cutting-edge RNA research. RNA Biology brings together a multidisciplinary community of scientists working in the areas of: Transcription and splicing Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression Non-coding RNAs RNA localization Translation and catalysis by RNA Structural biology Bioinformatics RNA in disease and therapy
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