Primordial synthesis machines and the origin of the genetic code

M. Aldana, F. Cázarez-Bush, G. Cocho and G. Martı́nez-Mekler

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 1998, vol. 257, issue 1, 119-127

Abstract: We characterize the dynamics of primitive molecular synthesis machines operating in outer space on quasi-one-dimensional channels where polymers interact with fixed particles. We show that a generic property of particle/polymer electrostatic interactions is an average three monomer spacing between consecutive interaction potential minima. We exhibit that this property translates into locomotion regularities with a slowing down every three monomers. We argue that this transport property may be at the origin of the three base codon composition of the genetic code. We relate these findings to present day protein synthesis mechanisms.

Keywords: Molecular machines; Origin of life; Genetic code; Ratchets; Ribosome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:257:y:1998:i:1:p:119-127

DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(98)00133-2

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