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 Evoljournal_title
Journal of molecular evolutionauthors
Runnels CM,Lanier KA,Williams JK,Bowman JC,Petrov AS,Hud NV,Williams LDdoi
10.1007/s00239-018-9876-2subject
Has Abstractpub_date
2018-12-01 00:00:00pages
598-610issue
9eissn
0022-2844issn
1432-1432pii
10.1007/s00239-018-9876-2journal_volume
86pub_type
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