Prebiotic peptides: Molecular hubs in the origin of life
The fundamental roles that peptides and proteins play in today's biology makes it almost
indisputable that peptides were key players in the origin of life. Insofar as it is appropriate to …
indisputable that peptides were key players in the origin of life. Insofar as it is appropriate to …
Root of the tree: the significance, evolution, and origins of the ribosome
The ribosome is an ancient molecular fossil that provides a telescope to the origins of life.
Made from RNA and protein, the ribosome translates mRNA to coded protein in all living …
Made from RNA and protein, the ribosome translates mRNA to coded protein in all living …
Peptides before and during the nucleotide world: An origins story emphasizing cooperation between proteins and nucleic acids
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 …
narrative of an abiotic emergence of nucleic acids from organic molecules of low molecular …
Enzymic recognition of amino acids drove the evolution of primordial genetic codes
How genetic information gained its exquisite control over chemical processes needed to
build living cells remains an enigma. Today, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) …
build living cells remains an enigma. Today, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) …
The peptidyl transferase center: a window to the past
SUMMARY In his 2001 article,“Translation: in retrospect and prospect,” the late Carl Woese
made a prescient observation that there was a need for the then-current view of translation …
made a prescient observation that there was a need for the then-current view of translation …
Selective incorporation of proteinaceous over nonproteinaceous cationic amino acids in model prebiotic oligomerization reactions
M Frenkel-Pinter, JW Haynes… - Proceedings of the …, 2019 - National Acad Sciences
Numerous long-standing questions in origins-of-life research center on the history of
biopolymers. For example, how and why did nature select the polypeptide backbone and …
biopolymers. For example, how and why did nature select the polypeptide backbone and …
Simple yet functional phosphate-loop proteins
Abundant and essential motifs, such as phosphate-binding loops (P-loops), are presumed to
be the seeds of modern enzymes. The Walker-A P-loop is absolutely essential in modern …
be the seeds of modern enzymes. The Walker-A P-loop is absolutely essential in modern …
Creative destruction: New protein folds from old
C Alvarez-Carreño, RJ Gupta… - Proceedings of the …, 2022 - National Acad Sciences
Mechanisms of emergence and divergence of protein folds pose central questions in
biological sciences. Incremental mutation and stepwise adaptation explain relationships …
biological sciences. Incremental mutation and stepwise adaptation explain relationships …
Primordial emergence of a nucleic acid-binding protein via phase separation and statistical ornithine-to-arginine conversion
De novo emergence demands a transition from disordered polypeptides into structured
proteins with well-defined functions. However, can polypeptides confer functions of …
proteins with well-defined functions. However, can polypeptides confer functions of …
Translation: the universal structural core of life
Abstract The Universal Gene Set of Life (UGSL) is common to genomes of all extant
organisms. The UGSL is small, consisting of< 100 genes, and is dominated by genes …
organisms. The UGSL is small, consisting of< 100 genes, and is dominated by genes …