{
  "abstract": "Life began with the emergence of a molecule that could replicate its own genetic material, a task plausibly mediated by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase ribozyme. Here, we present the structure of such a polymerase ribozyme, bound to RNA substrates comprising the template, primer, and nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) analog. The structure reveals how directed evolution shaped flanking elements around a highly conserved catalytic core derived from the ancestral class I ligase ribozyme. Each element serves as a functional module, positioning the primer-template duplex and incoming NTP within the active site of the enzyme. This emergent domain organization is remarkably similar to the \"right hand\" configuration of polymerase proteins, suggesting a common functional form for copying nucleic acids, regardless of biopolymer catalyst.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "The Salk Institute"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "T. S. Strutzenberg"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. P. Horning"
    },
    {
      "name": "W. G. Cochrane"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Andrade"
    },
    {
      "name": "X. Han"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. F. Joyce"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "D. Lyumkis"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1v6rzyd4hfjek.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.08.30.748161",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748161v1.full",
  "id": "1v6rzyd4hfjek",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748161v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "biophysics"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204895342",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748161v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1v6rzyd4hfjek.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:42Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.08.30.748161",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.30.748161v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:biophysics",
      "subfield": "biophysics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Structure of an RNA polymerase ribozyme replication complex",
  "title_text": "Structure of an RNA polymerase ribozyme replication complex",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:42Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1v6rzyd4hfjek",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}