Peptides before and during the nucleotide world: An origins story emphasizing cooperation between proteins and nucleic acids

0556704 - ÚOCHB 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Fried, S. D. - Fujishima, K. - Makarov, M. - Cherepashuk, I. - Hlouchová, Klára
Peptides before and during the nucleotide world: An origins story emphasizing cooperation between proteins and nucleic acids.
Journal of the Royal Society Interface. Roč. 19, č. 187 (2022), č. článku 20210641. ISSN 1742-5689. E-ISSN 1742-5662
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : origins of life * protein evolution * prebiotic polymers * early peptides
OECD category: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Impact factor: 3.9, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2021.0641

Recent developments in Origins of Life research have focused on substantiating the narrative of an abiotic emergence of nucleic acids from organic molecules of low molecular weight, a paradigm that typically sidelines the roles of peptides. Nevertheless, the simple synthesis of amino acids, the facile nature of their activation and condensation, their ability to recognize metals and cofactors and their remarkable capacity to self-assemble make peptides (and their analogues) favourable candidates for one of the earliest functional polymers. In this mini-review, we explore the ramifications of this hypothesis. Diverse lines of research in molecular biology, bioinformatics, geochemistry, biophysics and astrobiology provide clues about the progression and early evolution of proteins, and lend credence to the idea that early peptides served many central prebiotic roles before they were encodable by a polynucleotide template, in a putative 'peptide-polynucleotide stage'. For example, early peptides and mini-proteins could have served as catalysts, compartments and structural hubs. In sum, we shed light on the role of early peptides and small proteins before and during the nucleotide world, in which nascent life fully grasped the potential of primordial proteins, and which has left an imprint on the idiosyncratic properties of extant proteins.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0330849