On the Dimerization of the Primitive tRNAs: Implications in the Origin of Genetic Code

RNAs that catalyse their own aminoacylation have been recently selected in vitro. These findings support the notion that the primitive aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases may have been RNAs. In this paper, we propose a structural model for the first aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase consisting of an RNA complex form...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of theoretical biology 2002-08, Vol.217 (4), p.493-498
Main Authors: MARTÍNEZ GIMÉNEZ, JUAN A., SEISDEDOS, RAFAEL TABARÉS
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Dimerization
Genetic Code
Models, Genetic
RNA, Transfer - metabolism
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Summary:RNAs that catalyse their own aminoacylation have been recently selected in vitro. These findings support the notion that the primitive aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases may have been RNAs. In this paper, we propose a structural model for the first aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase consisting of an RNA complex formed between two primitive tRNA molecules through two intermolecular loop-strand interactions, and with implications in the origin of the genetic code.
ISSN:0022-5193
1095-8541
DOI:10.1006/jtbi.2002.3044