Just like old times: Generating RNA molecules in water

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ^ | Nov 20, 2009 | Unknown

[decimon]

Appearing in the Nov. 27, 2009, issue (Vol. 284, No. 48) of JBC

A key question in the origin of biological molecules like RNA and DNA is how they first came together billions of years ago from simple precursors. Now, in a study appearing in this week's JBC, researchers in Italy have reconstructed one of the earliest evolutionary steps yet: generating long chains of RNA from individual subunits using nothing but warm water.

Many researchers believe that RNA was one of the first biological molecules present, before DNA and proteins; however, there has been little success in recreating the formation on RNA from simple "prebiotic" molecules that likely were present on primordial earth billions of years ago.

Now, Ernesto Di Mauro and colleagues found that ancient molecules called cyclic nucleotides can merge together in water and form polymers over 100 nucleotides long in water ranging from 40-90 °C –similar to water temperatures on ancient Earth.

Cyclic nucleotides like cyclic-AMP are very similar to the nucleotides that make up individual pieces of DNA or RNA (A, T, G and C), except that they form an extra chemical bond and assume a ring-shaped structure. That extra bond makes cyclic nucleotides more reactive, though, and thus they were able to join together into long chains at a decent rate (about 200 hours to reach 100 nucleotides long).

This finding is exciting as cyclic nucleotides themselves can be easily formed from simple chemicals like formamide, thus making them plausible prebiotic compounds present during primordial times. Thus, this study may be revealing how the first bits of genetic information were created.

###

From the JBC article: Generation of Long RNA Chains in Water" by Giovanna Costanzo, Samanta Pino, Fabiana Ciciriello and Ernesto Di Mauro

Article link: http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2009/10/02/jbc.M109.041905

Corresponding Authors: Ernesto Di Mauro, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Tel: +39.06.49912880, E-mail: Ernesto.dimauro@uniroma1.it

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with over 11,900 members in the United States and internationally. Most members teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Others conduct research in various government laboratories, nonprofit research institutions and industry. The Society's student members attend undergraduate or graduate institutions.

Founded in 1906, the Society is based in Bethesda, Maryland, on the campus of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The Society's purpose is to advance the science of biochemistry and molecular biology through publication of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the Journal of Lipid Research, and Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, organization of scientific meetings, advocacy for funding of basic research and education, support of science education at all levels, and promoting the diversity of individuals entering the scientific work force.

For more information about ASBMB, see the Society's Web site at www.asbmb.org.

[decimon]

Time and tide ping.

[mnehring]

A scientist did it, how can we trust those type of people. What has science ever given us? Come on, we haven’t had a scientific gain in over a century. /sarc

[D Rider]

about 200 hours to reach 100 nucleotides long

Well, the earth just got a whole lot older.

[MNDude]

it seems frustrating trying to find out the truth when there’s propaganda pieces out there all the time from all sides:

Like that spider in the amber story today, or that Ida story a couple months ago.

[IronKros]

Couple this with the NASA experiment that was able to create uracil in the lab, recreating space conditions.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2385979/posts

[bigcat32]

http://www.godandscience.org/evolution/origin_homochirality.html#Mvr0TSoh8Lvu

[IronKros]

Modern science has been unable to answer this question. So logically one must then believe in the supernatural. There is no way for our understanding of science to progress any further.
I wonder if this supernatural force is still among us? Is it happy with us? Maybe I should perform a blood sacrifice to ensure we have a good crop this year.

[bigcat32]

Good luck.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks decimon for the topic. Gosh, this takes me back... :')

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[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
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[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks decimon. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[null and void]

For people who doubt reincarnation I present FR's own IronKros, clearly the reincarnation of Charles H Duell, Commissioner of US Office of Patents, who in 1899 wrote: "Everything that can be invented has been invented."

(It's also proof that although one can learn from one's mistakes, one is not required to do so)...

[SunkenCiv]

WTH? I guess I’d better do the mea culpa, but I swear, officer, she was dead by the time I got there...

[Radix]

Ping to an article of possible interest.

I am actually also interested in that Comcast is now a media force replacing (?) the news sources that I grew up with.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-science/20091120/EU.SCI.Big.Bang.Machine/

[marron]

Maybe I should perform a blood sacrifice to ensure we have a good crop this year.

Thats what interns and student assistants are for.

[LiberConservative]

So? Call me an evolution skeptic. When I see evidence that a fruit fly “evolved” I might reconsider.

[IronKros]

I didn’t think a sarcasm tag was necessary. Obviously I was wrong.

[Poe White Trash]

A scientist did it, how can we trust those type of people.

Given what's been revealed recently about the high priests of global warming, I've begun to wonder how much trust any group of people deserve who are as attached to the Big Government -- or Big Business -- teat as scientists are.

[null and void]

On a Crevo thread it’s often hard to tell.

Sorry.