Compartmentalised RNA catalysis in membrane-free coacervate protocells.

Drobot B, Iglesias-Artola JM, Le Vay K, Mayr V, Kar M, Kreysing M, Mutschler H, Tang TD

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.

Journal, Issue, Date: Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 7;9(1):3643
Year: 2018
Research Area: Biophysics
PubMed ID: 30194374
PubMed link: PubMed

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