title: A model for proto-tRNA loading.
abstract: A kinetic model for loading of proto-tRNA is presented. The kinetic parameters were first estimated from the results of Francklyn & Schimmel (1989;Nature337, 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yusim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lahav
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012343:RNA, Transfer
chemical_list: D012343:RNA, Transfer