Folding, Assembly, and Persistence: The Essential Nature and Origins of Biopolymers.

Abstract:

:Life as we know it requires three basic types of polymers: polypeptide, polynucleotide, and polysaccharide. Here we evaluate both universal and idiosyncratic characteristics of these biopolymers. We incorporate this information into a model that explains much about their origins, selection, and early evolution. We observe that all three biopolymer types are pre-organized, conditionally self-complementary, chemically unstable in aqueous media yet persistent because of kinetic trapping, with chiral monomers and directional chains. All three biopolymers are synthesized by dehydration reactions that are catalyzed by molecular motors driven by hydrolysis of phosphorylated nucleosides. All three biopolymers can access specific states that protect against hydrolysis. These protected states are folded, using self-complementary interactions among recurrent folding elements within a given biopolymer, or assembled, in associations between the same or different biopolymer types. Self-association in a hydrolytic environment achieves self-preservation. Heterogeneous association achieves partner-preservation. These universal properties support a model in which life's polymers emerged simultaneously and co-evolved in a common hydrolytic milieu where molecular persistence depended on folding and assembly. We believe that an understanding of the structure, function, and origins of any given type of biopolymer requires the context of other biopolymers.

journal_name

J Mol Evol

authors

Runnels CM,Lanier KA,Williams JK,Bowman JC,Petrov AS,Hud NV,Williams LD

doi

10.1007/s00239-018-9876-2

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2018-12-01 00:00:00

pages

598-610

issue

9

eissn

0022-2844

issn

1432-1432

pii

10.1007/s00239-018-9876-2

journal_volume

86

pub_type

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