title: A stereochemical relationship could explain the origin of the genetic code.
abstract: A stereochemical analysis has been carried out to investigate the possible complementarity between an RNA double helix containing thymine instead of uracil and two growing peptide chains. It is found that the optimal interactions follow the rules of the genetic code. The nature of the interaction could allow a mechanism for aminoacyl-RNA formation which could have given rise to the tRNA ancestors. Some theoretical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Département des Macromolécules biologiques, Laboratoire de Minéralogie-Cristallographie de Paris, Université P.-et-M.-Curie, Paris-VI.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prieur
mesh_terms: D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D005815:Genetic Code; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D013936:Thymidine