Chemical Replication of Nucleic Acids

I. Regiospecificity of Chemical RNA Copying

During the nonenzymatic copying of an RNA template by primer extension, either the 2′ or the 3′ hydroxyl of the primer can attack the phosphate of the incoming activated monomer, generating either a 2′-5′- or a 3′-5′-linkage. The resulting complementary strand will therefore contain a mixture of 2′-5′- and 3′-5′-linkages. Such backbone heterogeneity was thought to disrupt the folding—and hence the function—of RNA molecules. Our studies challenged this view and showed that even in the presence of substantial backbone heterogeneity, RNA aptamers and ribozymes can retain their molecular recognition and catalytic functions. Our high-resolution crystal structures rationalized this observation at the atomic level: RNA duplexes can buffer local structural changes caused by 2′-5′-linkages, resulting in a minimally altered global structure. Furthermore, 2′-5′-linkages reduce the energetic barriers of the ribose pseudorotation cycle, allowing RNA molecules to sample a wider range of conformations.

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A Mechanistic Explanation for the Regioselectivity of Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension.

Unusual Base-Pairing Interactions in Monomer-Template Complexes.

Functional RNAs exhibit tolerance for non-heritable 2′-5′ versus 3′-5′ backbone heterogeneity.

Structural insights into the effects of 2′-5′ linkages on the RNA duplex.

The free energy landscape of pseudorotation in 3′-5′ and 2′-5′ linked nucleic acids.

II. Fidelity

In order for protocells to have evolved in a Darwinian manner, the process of RNA replication must have been accurate enough to allow for the transmission of genetic information. This requires an error rate less than the reciprocal of the effective genome size, or about 1-2% for an RNA genome encoding 1 or 2 small ribozymes. Unfortunately, chemical copying using the four standard nucleobases is error-prone, and a major source of error is the G:U mismatch. Our recent studies showed that this problem can be alleviated by using s2U, a modified nucleotide that stabilizes canonical A:U pairs and destabilizes G:U wobble pairs. This single atom substitution improves both the kinetics and the fidelity of chemical copying of mixed-sequence RNA templates. We are actively exploring the potential roles of such noncanonical nucleotides during the infancy of the RNA world.

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Fast and accurate nonenzymatic copying of an RNA-like synthetic genetic polymer.

Crystal structure studies of RNA duplexes containing s(2)U:A and s(2)U:U base pairs.

Replacing uridine with 2-thiouridine enhances the rate and fidelity of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension.

Thermodynamic insights into 2-thiouridine-enhanced RNA hybridization.

Synthesis of activated 3′-amino-3′-deoxy-2-thio-thymidine, a superior substrate for the nonenzymatic copying of nucleic acid templates.

III. Activated Helper Oligos

It has long been possible to copy C-rich templates by primer extension with 2-methylimidazole (2MeIm)-activated nucleotides. In contrast, the copying of mixed sequence templates containing all four nucleotides has been essentially impossible. We have recently found that by using an activated trimer helper oligo, e.g. with 2-MeIm on the 5′-phosphate, there is a dramatic acceleration of the reaction between the primer and the adjacent monomer. By using a set of activated helper trinucleotides, along with all four activated monomers, we can now copy short mixed sequence templates containing all four nucleotides, in good yield.

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Structural Rationale for the Enhanced Catalysis of Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension by a Downstream Oligonucleotide.

Nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates containing all four letters is catalyzed by activated oligonucleotides.

IV. Alternative Genetic Polymers

In addition to RNA, many alternative genetic polymers have been proposed and some may have played a role in the early evolution of life. Our lab has characterized an extensive array of such genetic polymers, including threose nucleic acids, glycerol nucleic acids, as well as ribonucleotides with 2′-amino or 3′-amino modifications. Both 2′-amino-modified and 3′-amino-modified nucleotides are more reactive than their hydroxyl counterparts, enabling rapid and efficient copying of all four nucleobases on homopolymeric RNA and DNA templates. Future investigations will focus on copying mixed templates with all four nucleobases, within in fatty acid vesicles.

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Effect of terminal 3′-hydroxymethyl modification of an RNA primer on nonenzymatic primer extension.

Synthesis and nonenzymatic template-directed polymerization of 2′-amino-2′-deoxythreose nucleotides.

Fast and accurate nonenzymatic copying of an RNA-like synthetic genetic polymer.

Synthesis of N3′-P5′-linked phosphoramidate DNA by nonenzymatic template-directed primer extension.

Synthesis of activated 3′-amino-3′-deoxy-2-thio-thymidine, a superior substrate for the nonenzymatic copying of nucleic acid templates.

Template-directed synthesis of a genetic polymer in a model protocell.

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