Darwinian evolution of an alternative genetic system provides support for TNA as an RNA progenitor

Hanyang Yu, Su Zhang, John C. Chaput

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

211 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pre-RNA world hypothesis postulates that RNA was preceded in the evolution of life by a simpler genetic material, but it is not known if such systems can fold into structures capable of eliciting a desired function. Presumably, whatever chemistry gave rise to RNA would have produced other RNA analogues, some of which may have preceded or competed directly with RNA. Threose nucleic acid (TNA), a potentially natural derivative of RNA, has received considerable interest as a possible RNA progenitor due to its chemical simplicity and ability to exchange genetic information with itself and RNA. Here, we have applied Darwinian evolution methods to evolve, in vitro, a TNA receptor that binds to an arbitrary target with high affinity and specificity. This demonstration shows that TNA has the ability to fold into tertiary structures with sophisticated chemical functions, which provides evidence that TNA could have served as an ancestral genetic system during an early stage of life.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183-187
Number of pages5
JournalNature Chemistry
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Darwinian evolution of an alternative genetic system provides support for TNA as an RNA progenitor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this