Peptides before and during the nucleotide world: an origins story emphasizing cooperation between proteins and nucleic acids

Author:

Fried Stephen D.12ORCID,Fujishima Kosuke34ORCID,Makarov Mikhail5,Cherepashuk Ivan5ORCID,Hlouchova Klara56ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21212, USA

2. Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21212, USA

3. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 1528550, Japan

4. Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa 2520882, Japan

5. Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Prague 12800, Czech Republic

6. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 16610, Czech Republic

Abstract

Recent developments in Origins of Life research have focused on substantiating the narrative of an abiotic emergence of nucleic acids from organic molecules of low molecular weight, a paradigm that typically sidelines the roles of peptides. Nevertheless, the simple synthesis of amino acids, the facile nature of their activation and condensation, their ability to recognize metals and cofactors and their remarkable capacity to self-assemble make peptides (and their analogues) favourable candidates for one of the earliest functional polymers. In this mini-review, we explore the ramifications of this hypothesis. Diverse lines of research in molecular biology, bioinformatics, geochemistry, biophysics and astrobiology provide clues about the progression and early evolution of proteins, and lend credence to the idea that early peptides served many central prebiotic roles before they were encodable by a polynucleotide template, in a putative ‘peptide-polynucleotide stage’. For example, early peptides and mini-proteins could have served as catalysts, compartments and structural hubs. In sum, we shed light on the role of early peptides and small proteins before and during the nucleotide world, in which nascent life fully grasped the potential of primordial proteins, and which has left an imprint on the idiosyncratic properties of extant proteins.

Funder

National Science Foundation

International Visegrad Fund

Grantová Agentura, Univerzita Karlova

Human Frontier Science Program

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

Biomedical Engineering,Biochemistry,Biomaterials,Bioengineering,Biophysics,Biotechnology

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3