Differential stability and dynamics of DNA-based and RNA-based coacervates affect non-enzymatic RNA chemistry

The RNA-peptide world hypothesis postulates the early co-evolution of RNA and peptides that led to the emergence of non-enzymatic RNA replication and peptide synthesis. Although nucleotides and amino acids have been shown to form and polymerise under prebiotic conditions, the origins of their synergy remain unclear. We propose that cooperation between DNA, RNA and peptides could have stemmed from their co-localisation in early biological compartments. Here, we show that heterogeneous mixtures of prebiotic oligonucleotides and peptides can spontaneously assemble into primitive coacervates. Experimental and computational studies reveal that peptide/nucleic acid coacervates are highly robust and form under a notably broad range of conditions. RNA-based coacervates are exceptionally stable and, in the presence of DNA, very fluid, which facilitates diffusion of reactive oligonucleotides and supports prebiotic RNA chemistry. Our findings suggest that coacervation may have occurred very early on the evolutionary timeline and fostered the emergence of a nucleic acid-peptide world. This study provides insights into the prebiotic role of coacervates and reconsiders their significance for the origins of life and the emergence of primitive replication and translation systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-10-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64335-9
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Origins and Evolution of Life
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.46

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article

Differential stability and dynamics of DNA-based and RNA-based coacervates affect non-enzymatic RNA chemistry

Kieran O. Russell, Karina K. Nakashima, Roger Rubio‐Sánchez, Maria Julia Maristany et al.
3 citations
Nature Communications
Origins and Evolution of Life
3.46
article

Differential stability and dynamics of DNA-based and RNA-based coacervates affect non-enzymatic RNA chemistry

Kieran O. Russell, Karina K. Nakashima, Roger Rubio‐Sánchez, Maria Julia Maristany, Claudia Bonfio, Rosana Collepardo‐Guevara, Derek K. O’Flaherty, Fidan Rahmatova, Fatma Zohra Mihoubi, Jagandeep S. Saraya, James D. Robinson, Jan Huertas
article en
3 citations

Abstract

The RNA-peptide world hypothesis postulates the early co-evolution of RNA and peptides that led to the emergence of non-enzymatic RNA replication and peptide synthesis. Although nucleotides and amino acids have been shown to form and polymerise under prebiotic conditions, the origins of their synergy remain unclear. We propose that cooperation between DNA, RNA and peptides could have stemmed from their co-localisation in early biological compartments. Here, we show that heterogeneous mixtures of prebiotic oligonucleotides and peptides can spontaneously assemble into primitive coacervates. Experimental and computational studies reveal that peptide/nucleic acid coacervates are highly robust and form under a notably broad range of conditions. RNA-based coacervates are exceptionally stable and, in the presence of DNA, very fluid, which facilitates diffusion of reactive oligonucleotides and supports prebiotic RNA chemistry. Our findings suggest that coacervation may have occurred very early on the evolutionary timeline and fostered the emergence of a nucleic acid-peptide world. This study provides insights into the prebiotic role of coacervates and reconsiders their significance for the origins of life and the emergence of primitive replication and translation systems.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Cambridge (GB), Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (FR), University of Guelph (CA)
International Business Machines Corporation, Government of the United Kingdom, UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Université de Strasbourg, China Scholarship Council, Directorate for Biological Sciences, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Origins and Evolution of Life
3.46
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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