A model for proto-tRNA loading

Karina Yusim, Shlomo Nir, Noam Lahav*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A kinetic model for loading of proto-tRNA is presented. The kinetic parameters were first estimated from the results of Francklyn & Schimmel (1989; Nature 337, 478-481), who studied the aminoacylation of both tRNA and its minihelix. Then these parameters were reduced several-fold, as is more appropriate for the prebiotic world. The simulations revealed a very slow time course of the loading reaction. We also consider a possibility for the proto-tRNA loading without a catalyst and discuss the feasibility of such processes. Analytical approximations are presented for the kinetics of proto-tRNA loading with and without enzyme. An estimate is given for the time required for the development of template- and sequence-directed systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)109-116
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology
Volume208
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Jan 2001

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