@NU: Researches glimpse ancient RNA interaction

Northwestern researchers from the Mondragon Lab have produced a picture of how two ancient pieces of RNA machinery interact.

RNase P structure. From Kazantsev, A.V. et. al. (2005).

One of the most popular theories of the origin of life describes a world before proteins, where RNA (a close cousin of DNA) acted as the mover and shaker of the first organic systems. Small pieces of that original system continue to function in our cells today. With the help of "powerful X-rays produced by the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory", Northwestern researches from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences have shown, for the first time, how RNase P cleaves the transfer RNA (tRNA) essential for protein translation.

For more details, check out the press release.