A theory is developed on the origin of the first codified protein, that is to say the appearance of the first messenger RNA (mRNA). This theory hypothesises a central role in enzyme catalysis played by peptidyl-RNAs, i.e. complexes of peptides and RNAs, in a very early evolutionary stage of genetic code origin. The evolution of peptidyl-RNA would then lead to the origin of peptidyl-tRNA, a key intermediary in the origin of protein synthesis. The appearance of the first mRNA might be justified by the need of the evolving system for unique and directional interactions between peptidyl-RNAs, which had now become peptidyl-tRNA-like molecules. The appearance of the first mRNA, would therefore be the result of the optimisation and channelling of interactions between peptidyl-tRNA-like molecules.
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Di Giulio, M. (2008). Why the Genetic Code Originated: Implications for the Origin of Protein Synthesis. In: Barbieri, M., Hoffmeyer, J. (eds) The Codes of Life. Biosemiotics, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6340-4_4
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