Abstract
A shortened form of the self-splicing ribosomal RNA intervening sequence of Tetrahymena thermophila has enzymatic activity as a poly(cytidylic acid) polymerase [Zaug, A.J. & Cech, T.R. (1986) Science 231, 470-475]. Based on the known properties of this enzyme, a detailed model is developed for the template-dependent synthesis of RNA by an RNA polymerase itself made of RNA. The monomer units for RNA synthesis are tetra- and pentanucleotides of random base sequence. Polymerization occurs in a 5'-to-3' direction, and elongation rates are expected to approach two residues per minute. If the RNA enzyme could use another copy of itself as a template, RNA self-replication could be achieved. Thus, it seems possible that RNA catalysts might have played a part in prebiotic nucleic acid replication, prior to the availability of useful proteins.
Keywords
RNARibozymeRNA editingRNA-dependent RNA polymerasePolymeraseTetrahymenaRNA polymerase ILigase ribozymeBiologySmall nuclear RNARNA polymeraseBiochemistryMolecular biologyChemistryEnzymeGene
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1986
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 83
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 4360-4363
- Citations
- 245
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Thomas R. Cech
(1986).
A model for the RNA-catalyzed replication of RNA..
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
, 83
(12)
, 4360-4363.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.83.12.4360
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.83.12.4360