Journal
JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY
Volume 226, Issue 1, Pages 89-93Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2003.07.001
Keywords
tRNA origin; protein synthesis origin; exonic gene theory
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A model for tRNA molecule origin is discussed. The model postulates that this molecule originated simply by direct duplication (and subsequent evolution) of a gene coding for an RNA hairpin structure, which can thus be hypothesized as the evolutionary precursor of the tRNA molecule. The main properties are defined for these hairpin structures and it is suggested that these structures might have housed, near their 3' end, anticodons that were transferred to the loop of the tRNA anticodon during duplication of the hairpin structures. Moreover, the main characteristics are given for the evolutionary intermediary formed by direct duplication of the hairpin structure, i.e. the double hairpin. The evolutionary stages envisaged by this model for tRNA origin seem to naturally imply some evolutionary transitions through which the origin of protein synthesis passed. Finally, some strong historical evidence is provided to corroborate the model. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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