Scientists from the Hollige laboratory in the MRC Lomb Cambridge, UK, and the University of Aarhus in Denmark have made a significant breakthrough in the study of the origin of life. Their research supports the RNA-Mir hypothesis, which suggests that the first forms of life emerged through RNA-Spending, a process in which RNA molecules are capable of self-replication. This theory has gained further evidence with the publication of an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which presents the first atomic structure of RNA consumptions obtained through cryoelectronic microscopy (Cryo-EM).
In the Holliger laboratory, researchers have developed a replicat that effectively copies long templates using triple nucleotides in a state resembling slushy eutectic ice. The structure of this replicat closely resembles that of a protein polymerase, with domains for template connection, polymerization, and substrate distinction. It forms a structure similar to an open hand.
Philip Holliger, the program manager at MRC LMB Cambridge, highlights the surprising observation of an artificially developed ribozima in the laboratory imitating the natural protein polymerase. This indicates the potential of evolutionary processes to produce similar molecular solutions regardless of whether the material consists of RNA or protein.
The researchers also conducted a mutation study to identify key elements of the RNA structure, confirming the significance of certain interactions and domains for replication accuracy. Although the structure of the replica during active RNA copying could not be determined, a model based on RNA replication was constructed using all available experimental data.
Evan Macray, who conducted the Cryo-EM work at the Andersen Laboratory at the University of Aarhus, emphasizes the power of this method to study RNA molecule structure and dynamics.
The study’s findings not only contribute to our understanding of the origin of life but also open up new possibilities in the field of RNA nanotechnologies and medicine. Ebbe Slot Andersen from the University of Aarhus explains that the exploration of life’s beginnings enables the discovery of new RNA building blocks that can be utilized in the growing field of RNA nanotechnologies and medicine. With this breakthrough, scientists will be able to develop more efficient replication mechanisms, bringing us closer to recreating RNA-Mira scenarios in laboratory conditions.