TRR 392: Molecular evolution in prebiotic environments

TRR 392：生命起源前环境中的分子进化

• 批准号: 521256690
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: CRC/Transregios
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/521256690?language=en
• 关键词: TRR; 392; Molecular; evolution; prebiotic

How could molecules in a prebiotic setting have created robust Darwinian evolution and created the first sequence information of Life? This CRC brings together expertise from a wide range of fields, including geosciences, chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry and theory, to bring this age-old question to a solution. We aim to answer the following key questions: (i) What chemical, physical, and geological constraints are required to trigger the molecular evolution of RNA? (ii) What are the primitive selection pressures that bridge from chemical evolution of RNA to the Darwinian evolution of sequences? (iii) Can we create a novel biotechnology for the autonomous evolution of molecules? (iv) Can our experiments define the requirements for early life on other planets? Darwinian evolution requires a molecule that carries information, is open to variation and selection and links to modern biology. RNA has been the choice of biology and the focus of the Origins of Life field from the beginning. Unlike traditional approaches of single disciplines in the field, we will integrate RNA synthesis, oligomerization, strand-separation and replication and combine them with amino acids to achieve translation. Only this way, we will be able to reveal the chemical evolution that chose RNA over all other possible information molecules. In Research Area A: Replication and Selection towards Function, we will explore novel mechanisms to implement the molecular cycle of RNA replication, variation, selection, and strand separation to drive molecular evolution. In Research Area B: Environments that drive Molecular Evolution, we will study environments that can feed the system, support catalysis, allow compartmentalization in non-equilibrium settings to drive evolution. In combination, we will focus on autonomous and cooperative strategies and methods to address molecular evolution with the long-term goal to breed function through evolution. The long-term goal of this CRC for the full duration of twelve years is twofold. First, laboratory experiments are on the verge of implementing the first steps of autonomous molecular evolution, but lack the combined cross-disciplinary contributions. Second, astrophysics will provide us with information to probe origins of life of exoplanets in lab experiments. Our CRC will lead to major advances in our understanding of how molecular life could have emerged under prebiotic conditions.

在生命起源前的环境中，分子是如何创造出强大的达尔文进化论，并创造出生命的第一个序列信息的呢？该中心汇集了来自广泛领域的专业知识，包括地球科学、化学、生物物理学、生物化学和理论，以解决这个古老的问题。我们的目标是回答以下关键问题：(i)触发RNA分子进化需要什么样的化学、物理和地质约束？（ii）从RNA的化学进化到达尔文的序列进化之间的桥梁是什么？（iii）我们能否创造一种新的生物技术来实现分子的自主进化？（四）我们的实验能确定其他星球上早期生命的条件吗？达尔文的进化需要一种携带信息的分子，对变异和选择开放，并与现代生物学联系在一起。RNA从一开始就是生物学的选择，也是生命起源领域的焦点。与传统的单一学科方法不同，我们将整合RNA合成、寡聚、链分离和复制，并将它们与氨基酸结合起来实现翻译。只有这样，我们才能揭示在所有其他可能的信息分子中选择RNA的化学进化。在研究领域A：功能的复制和选择，我们将探索实现RNA复制，变异，选择和链分离的分子周期的新机制，以驱动分子进化。在研究领域B：驱动分子进化的环境中，我们将研究能够为系统提供养分的环境，支持催化作用，允许非平衡环境中的区隔化来驱动进化。结合起来，我们将专注于自主和合作的策略和方法，以解决分子进化的长期目标，通过进化繁殖功能。《儿童权利公约》在整个12年期间的长期目标是双重的。首先，实验室实验即将实现自主分子进化的第一步，但缺乏跨学科的联合贡献。其次，天体物理学将为我们在实验室实验中探索系外行星的生命起源提供信息。我们的CRC将导致我们对分子生命如何在益生元条件下出现的理解取得重大进展。