PRIMORDIAL SYNTHESIS MACHINES AND THE ORIGIN OF THE GENETIC-CODE

We characterize the dynamics of primitive molecular synthesis machines operating in outer space on quasi-one-dimensional channels where poly mers interact with fixed particles. We show that a generic property of particle/polymer electrostatic interactions is an average three monom er spacing between consecutive interaction potential minima. We exhibi t that this property translates into locomotion regularities with a sl owing down every three monomers. We argue that this transport property may be at the origin of the three base codon composition of the genet ic code. We relate these findings to present day protein synthesis mec hanisms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.