Müller U F
Whitehead Institute, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2006 Jun;63(11):1278-93. doi: 10.1007/s00018-006-6047-1.
The RNA world hypothesis states that life originated via a system based on RNA genomes and RNA catalysts. Researchers have been trying to develop such a system since catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) were discovered in 1982. This review summarizes the recent progress made in that endeavor and outlines the obstacles that remain to be overcome. After giving a short background on prebiotic chemistry and in vitro evolution, the discussion focuses on the generation of three important components of an RNA world: a sufficient polymerase ribozyme, self-replicating membrane compartments and ribozymes that are capable of performing basic metabolic processes.
RNA世界假说认为，生命起源于一个基于RNA基因组和RNA催化剂的系统。自1982年发现催化性RNA（核酶）以来，研究人员一直在尝试开发这样一个系统。本综述总结了这一努力中取得的最新进展，并概述了仍有待克服的障碍。在简短介绍了益生元化学和体外进化的背景之后，讨论集中于RNA世界三个重要组成部分的产生：足够的聚合酶核酶、自我复制的膜隔室以及能够执行基本代谢过程的核酶。
