On the possible origin and evolution of genetic coding

TL;DR

This paper proposes a detailed evolutionary scenario for the origin of genetic coding, suggesting that continuous poly-tRNA-like molecules and RNA fragments played key roles in the development of modern genetic translation mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hypothesis that early genetic coding involved poly-tRNA-like molecules and RNA fragments acting as co-ribozymes, explaining the transition to the modern indirect coding system.

Findings

Proposes a continuous poly-tRNA-like precursor to modern tRNAs.

Suggests RNA fragments as ancestors of mRNA, facilitating peptide synthesis.

Provides experimental and theoretical support for the evolutionary pathway.

Abstract

To synthesize peptides alongside the RNAs making the so-called RNA world, some genetic coding involving RNA had to develop. Herein, it is proposed that the first real-coding setup was a direct one, made up of continuous poly-tRNA-like molecules, with each tRNA-like moiety carrying, beyond and near its 5 prime or 3 prime end, a trinucleotide site for specific amino acid binding: the sequence and continuity of the tRNA moieties of a particular poly-tRNA would ensure the sequence and continuity of the amino acids of the corresponding peptide or small protein. In parallel with these particular entities, and enhancing their peptide-forming function, a proto-ribosome and primitive amino acid-activation system would develop. At some stage, one critical innovation would be the appearance of RNA fragments that could tighten several adjacent tRNA moieties together on a particular poly-tRNA molecule, by pairing with the second trinucleotide sequence (identical to the first one carrying the specific amino acid-binding site) situated at, or close to, the middle of each tRNA moiety (i.e., the present anticodon site). These RNA fragments, acting as authentic co-ribozymes in the peptide-synthesizing apparatus, would constitute the ancestors of the present mRNAs. Later, on these mRNA-like guiding fragments, free tRNA forms would be additionally used, first keeping their amino acid-binding sites, then losing them in favor of a specific amino acid attachment at a CCA arm at their 3 prime end. Finally, these latter mechanisms would progressively prevail, leading to the modern and universal indirect genetic coding system. Experimental and theoretical arguments are presented and discussed in favor of such a scenario for the origin and evolution of genetic coding.