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Compartmentalised RNA catalysis in membrane-free coacervate protocells.

ABSTRACT: Phase separation of mixtures of oppositely charged polymers provides a simple and direct route to compartmentalisation via complex coacervation, which may have been important for driving primitive reactions as part of the RNA world hypothesis. However, to date, RNA catalysis has not been reconciled with coacervation. Here we demonstrate that RNA catalysis is viable within coacervate microdroplets and further show that these membrane-free droplets can selectively retain longer length RNAs while permitting transfer of lower molecular weight oligonucleotides.

SUBMITTER: Drobot B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6128941 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Compartmentalised RNA catalysis in membrane-free coacervate protocells.

Drobot Björn B Iglesias-Artola Juan M JM Le Vay Kristian K Mayr Viktoria V Kar Mrityunjoy M Kreysing Moritz M Mutschler Hannes H Tang T-Y Dora TD

Nature communications 20180907 1

Phase separation of mixtures of oppositely charged polymers provides a simple and direct route to compartmentalisation via complex coacervation, which may have been important for driving primitive reactions as part of the RNA world hypothesis. However, to date, RNA catalysis has not been reconciled with coacervation. Here we demonstrate that RNA catalysis is viable within coacervate microdroplets and further show that these membrane-free droplets can selectively retain longer length RNAs while p ...[more]

PMID: 30194374

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