Editor's Summary
14 May 2009
RNA is for life
The origin of life on Earth required — at some point — the synthesis of a genetic polymer from simple chemicals. The leading candidate for this role is RNA, but although 'activated' ribonucleotide molecules (the building blocks of RNA) can polymerize without enzymes, no plausible route had been found by which the ribonucleotides could have formed. Now a team from the University of Manchester has found such a route. They also show that a widely held assumption about ribonucleotide synthesis — that the molecules formed from pre-existing sugar molecules and RNA bases — isn't necessary for RNA to have formed on prebiotic Earth.
News and Views: Origins of life: Systems chemistry on early Earth
Understanding how life emerged on Earth is one of the greatest challenges facing modern chemistry. A new way of looking at the synthesis of RNA sidesteps a thorny problem in the field.
Jack W. Szostak
doi:10.1038/459171a
Letter: Synthesis of activated pyrimidine ribonucleotides in prebiotically plausible conditions
Matthew W. Powner, Béatrice Gerland & John D. Sutherland
doi:10.1038/nature08013
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (321K) | Supplementary information
