Definition
The RNA world hypothesis (Gilbert 1986) states that systems based on an RNA genome and RNA catalysts preceded current forms of life and several model systems have been described for auto-replication (Cech 1986; Meyer et al. 2012) and metabolism (Nissen et al. 2000). According to this model, long catalytically active RNA molecules (ribozymes) had to evolve from short RNA fragments through the reactions of cleavage and/or intermolecular ligation (named collectively “recombination”). Both reactions involve transesterification, which implies the involvement of 2’-OH group of ribose in the cleavage site for the ester bond transfer. This is the main reason for most likely participation of RNA rather than DNA in evolution under prebiotic conditions.
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RNA nonenzymatic recombination reactions are of great interest within the hypothesis of the “RNA world” (Gilbert 1986) which...
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References
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Costanzo, G. (2023). Abiotic Recombination. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65093-6_5452
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