Goldilocks and RNA: where Mg2+ concentration is just right.

Magnesium, the most abundant divalent cation in cells, catalyzes RNA cleavage but also promotes RNA folding. Because folding can protect RNA from cleavage, we predicted a 'Goldilocks landscape', with local maximum in RNA lifetime at Mg2+ concentrations required for folding. Here, we use simulation and experiment to discover an innate and sophisticated mechanism of control of RNA lifetime.

A blueprint for academic laboratories to produce SARS-CoV-2 quantitative RT-PCR test kits.

Widespread testing for the presence of the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals remains vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the advent of an effective treatment. Challenges in testing can be traced to an initial shortage of supplies, expertise, and/or instrumentation necessary to detect the virus by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), the most robust, sensitive, and specific assay currently available. Here we show that academic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories equipped with appropriate expertise and infrastructure can replicate commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits and backfill pipeline shortages.

A blueprint for academic labs to produce SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits.

Widespread testing for the presence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in individuals remains vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the advent of an effective treatment. Challenges in testing can be traced to an initial shortage of supplies, expertise and/or instrumentation necessary to detect the virus by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the most robust, sensitive, and specific assay currently available. Here we show that academic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories equipped with appropriate expertise and infrastructure can replicate commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits and backfill pipeline shortages.

Cutting in-line with iron: ribosomal function and non-oxidative RNA cleavage.

Divalent metal cations are essential to the structure and function of the ribosome. Previous characterizations of the ribosome performed under standard laboratory conditions have implicated Mg2+ as a primary mediator of ribosomal structure and function. Possible contributions of Fe2+ as a ribosomal cofactor have been largely overlooked, despite the ribosome's early evolution in a high Fe2+ environment, and the continued use of Fe2+ by obligate anaerobes inhabiting high Fe2+ niches.

Template-directed RNA polymerization and enhanced ribozyme catalysis inside membraneless compartments formed by coacervates.

Membraneless compartments, such as complex coacervates, have been hypothesized as plausible prebiotic micro-compartments due to their ability to sequester RNA; however, their compatibility with essential RNA World chemistries is unclear. We show that such compartments can enhance key prebiotically-relevant RNA chemistries. We demonstrate that template-directed RNA polymerization is sensitive to polycation identity, with polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDAC) outperforming poly(allylamine), poly(lysine), and poly(arginine) in polycation/RNA coacervates.