title: On the dimerization of the primitive tRNAs: implications in the origin of genetic code.
abstract: RNAs that catalyse their own aminoacylation have been recently selected in vitro. These findings support the notion that the primitive aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases may have been RNAs. In this paper, we propose a structural model for the first aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase consisting of an RNA complex formed between two primitive tRNA molecules through two intermolecular loop-strand interactions, and with implications in the origin of the genetic code.
authors.affiliation: C/oVirgen Del Pilar, 34, 46980, Paterna, Spain
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martinez Gimenez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tabarés Seisdedos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019281:Dimerization; D005815:Genetic Code; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012343:RNA, Transfer