catalytic RNA Archives

A) Sequence alignment tree of the 45 biochemically tested RNAs. Clustering of the RNAs by sequence alignment coincided by the RNA’s use of specific DNA cofactors as coded by different colors. Clusters were determined by both RNA sequence distances and the DNA cofactors they recruited. The name of each of the 14 clusters and its most abundant sequence are given on the right. Sequences given in parentheses name the representative RNAs that were tested biochemically. The detailed tree with all 1331 sequences is shown in fig. S4. (B) Network illustrating the edit distances between the biochemically tested 45 RNAs (circles). The size of the circles represents the relative abundance of the RNA in selection round 6. The color of the circles reflects DNA cofactor use and is the same as the 14 clusters in panel A and Fig. 2. The numbers on the lines are the edit distances between the two connected RNAs. -- Science Advances via PubMed

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Assembly Of Catalytic Complexes From Randomized Oligonucleotides

by Keith CowingMay 3, 2025May 3, 2025

The early evolution of life relied on catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) for central functions.

Proposed mechanism of compartmentalization and self-replication via an RNA condensate: (1) condensation, (2) RNA-templated polymerization (green arrows) and growth, and (3) division. -- q-bio.BM

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

An RNA Condensate Model For The Origin Of Life

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2025

The RNA World hypothesis predicts that self-replicating RNAs evolved before DNA genomes and coded proteins. Despite widespread support for the RNA World, self-replicating RNAs have yet to be identified in […]

catalytic RNA

Assembly Of Catalytic Complexes From Randomized Oligonucleotides

An RNA Condensate Model For The Origin Of Life

Mapping Alien Continents: Achieving Optical VLBI For Exoplanet Imaging

Tryptophan Became Part Of The Universal Genetic Code Post-LUCA

Triassic Inferno: Fires Raged Across Europe For thousands Of Years During Past Global Warming

Methodological Synergies Between Technosignature And UHE Neutrino Searches

Interstellar Objects During Stellar Encounters