Nonenzymatic Template-Directed RNA Synthesis Inside Model Protocells

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 342; no. 6162; pp. 1098 - 1100
• Main Authors: Adamala, Katarzyna, Szostak, Jack W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 29-11-2013; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Artificial cells; Artificial Cells - chemistry; Biosynthesis; Catalysis; Chelating Agents - chemistry; Citrates; Citrates - chemistry; Fatty acids; Ions; Liposomes; Manganese - chemistry; Molecules; Monomers; Oleic Acid - chemistry; Oligonucleotides; Ribonucleotides - chemistry; RNA; RNA - chemical synthesis; RNA polymerase; RNA Stability; Studies; Templates, Genetic
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1241888

Efforts to recreate a prebiotically plausible protocell, in which RNA replication occurs within a fatty acid vesicle, have been stalled by the destabilizing effect of Mg²⁺ on fatty acid membranes. Here we report that the presence of citrate protects fatty acid membranes from the disruptive effects of high Mg²⁺ ion concentrations while allowing RNA copying to proceed, while also protecting single-stranded RNA from Mg²⁺-catalyzed degradation. This combination of properties has allowed us to demonstrate the chemical copying of RNA templates inside fatty acid vesicles, which in turn allows for an increase in copying efficiency by bathing the vesicles in a continuously refreshed solution of activated nucleotides.