2022

Folding and Duplex Formation in Sequence-Defined Aniline Benzaldehyde Oligoarylacetylenes

Strom KS and Szostak JW
J Am Chem Soc 2022 Oct. PDF .

Hybridization kinetics of out-of-equilibrium mixtures of short RNA oligonucleotides

Todisco M and Szostak JW
Nucleic Acids Res. 2022 Sept. PDF .

Template-Free Assembly of Functional RNAs by Loop-Closing Ligation

Wu LF, Liu Z, Roberts SJ, Su M, Szostak JW, Sutherland JD.
J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Aug. PDF .

Freeze-thaw cycles enable a prebiotically plausible and continuous pathway from nucleotide activation to nonenzymatic RNA copying

Zhang SJ, Duzdevich D, Ding D, Szostak JW.
PNAS 2022 Apr. PDF .

Nonenzymatic assembly of active chimeric ribozymes from aminoacylated RNA oligonucleotides

Radakovic A, DasGupta S, Wright TH, Aitken HRM, and Szostak JW
PNAS 2022 Feb. PDF .

Kinetic explanations for the sequence biases observed in the nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates

Ding D, Zhou L, Giurgiu C, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2022 Jan. PDF .

2021

Structure-activity relationships in nonenzymatic template-directed RNA synthesis

Constantin Giurgiu, Ziyuan Fang, Harry R M Aitken, Seohyun Chris Kim, Lydia Pazienza, Shriyaa Mittal, Jack W Szostak
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2021 Aug. PDF .

Ribose Alters the Photochemical Properties of the Nucleobase in Thionated Nucleosides

Janicki MJ, Kufner CL, Todd ZR, Kim SC, O'Flaherty DK, Szostak JW, Šponer J, Góra RW, Sasselov DD, Szabla R
J Phys Chem Lett. 2021 Jul. PDF .

Competition between bridged dinucleotides and activated mononucleotides determines the error frequency of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension

Duzdevich D, Carr CE, Ding D, Zhang SJ, Walton TS, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2021 March PDF .

The Emergence of RNA from the Heterogeneous Products of Prebiotic Nucleotide Synthesis

Kim SC, O'Flaherty DK, Giurgiu C, Zhou L, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2021 Feb PDF .

In search of the RNA world on Mars.

Mojarro A, Jin L, Szostak JW, Head JW 3rd, Zuber MT.
Geobiology 2021 Feb PDF .

A Potential Role for Aminoacylation in Primordial RNA Copying Chemistry

Radakovic A, Wright TH, Lelyveld VS, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry 2021 Feb PDF .

Shielding from UV Photodamage: Implications for Surficial Origins of Life Chemistry on the Early Earth

Todd ZR, Szostak JW, and Sasselov DD
ACS Earth Space Chem. 2021 Jan PDF .

The Virtual Circular Genome Model for Primordial RNA Replication

Zhou L, Ding D, Szostak JW.
RNA 2021 Jan PDF .

Structural interpretation of the effects of threo-nucleotides on nonenzymatic template-directed polymerization.

Zhang W, Kim SC, Tam CP, Lelyveld VS, Bala S, Chaput JC, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2020 Dec PDF .

2020

Bulk Self-Assembly of Giant, Unilamellar Vesicles.

Kindt JT, Szostak JW, Wang A.
ACS Nano. 2020 Nov PDF .

Solid-Phase Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Informational Oligomers

Strom KR and Szostak JW.
J Org Chem 2020 Nov PDF .

Nonenzymatic RNA-templated Synthesis of N3' → P5' Phosphoramidate DNA

O'Flaherty DK, Zhou L, Szostak JW.
Bio Protoc. 2020 Sep PDF .

Assembly of a ribozyme ligase from short oligomers by nonenzymatic ligation

Zhou L, O'Flaherty DK, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Sep PDF .

Potentially Prebiotic Activation Chemistry Compatible with Nonenzymatic RNA Copying

Zhang SJ, Duzdevich D, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Sep PDF .

Template-directed copying of RNA by non-enzymatic ligation.

Zhou L, O'Flaherty DK, Szostak JW.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2020 Sep PDF .

Deep sequencing of non-enzymatic RNA primer extension.

Duzdevich D, Carr CE, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2020 Jul PDF .

Ultraviolet-Driven Deamination of Cytidine Ribonucleotides Under Planetary Conditions.

Todd ZR, Fahrenbach AC, Ranjan S, Magnani CJ, Szostak JW, Sasselov DD.
Astrobiology. 2020 Jul PDF .

S-phase Enriched Non-coding RNAs Regulate Gene Expression and Cell Cycle Progression

Yildirim O, Izgu EC, Damie M, Chalei V, Ji F, Sadreyev R, Szostak JW, Kingston RE.
Cell Rep. 2020 May PDF .

Synthesis of phosphoramidate-linked DNA by a modified DNA polymerase.

Lelyveld VS, Zhang W, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Mar PDF .

In vitro selection of ribozyme ligases that use prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole-activated substrates.

Walton T, DasGupta S, Duzdevich D, Oh SS, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Mar PDF .

A model for the emergence of RNA from a prebiotically plausible mixture of ribonucleotides, arabinonucleotides and 2'-deoxynucleotides.

Kim SC, Zhou L, Zhang W, O'Flaherty DK, Rondo-Brovetto V, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Jan PDF .

Large phenotypic enhancement of structured random RNA pools.

Chizzolini F, Passalacqua LFM, Oumais M, Dingilian AI, Szostak JW, Lupták A.
J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Jan PDF .

2019

Non-enzymatic primer extension with strand displacement.

Zhou L, Kim SC, Ho KH, O'Flaherty DK, Giurgiu C, Wright TH, Szostak JW.
Elife 2019 Nov PDF .

Lipid constituents of model protocell membranes

Wang A. and Szostak JW.
Emerg Top Life Sci. 2019 Nov .

Prebiotically Plausible "Patching" of RNA Backbone Cleavage through a 3'-5' Pyrophosphate Linkage.

Wright TH, Giurgiu C, Zhang W, Radakovic A, O'Flaherty DK, Zhou L, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Nov
PDF .

DNA polymerase activity on synthetic N3'→P5' phosphoramidate DNA templates.

Lelyveld VS, O'Flaherty DK, Zhou L, Izgu EC, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 Sep PDF .

UV photostability of three 2-aminoazoles with key roles in prebiotic chemistry on the early earth.

Todd ZR, Szabla R, Szostak JW, Sasselov DD.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2019 Aug PDF .

Template-Directed Nonenzymatic Primer Extension Using 2-Methylimidazole-Activated Morpholino Derivatives of Guanosine and Cytidine.

Zhang W, Pal A, Ricardo A, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Jul PDF .

Nonenzymatic Template-Directed Synthesis of Mixed-Sequence 3'-NP-DNA up to 25 Nucleotides Long Inside Model Protocells.

O'Flaherty DK, Zhou L, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Jul PDF .

The mechanism of nonenzymatic template copying with imidazole-activated nucleotides.

Walton T, Zhang W, Li L, Tam CP, Szostak JW.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2019 Aug .

Transfer of Sequence Information and Replication of Diimine Duplexes.

Strom KR, Szostak JW, Prywes N.
J Org Chem. 2019 Apr PDF .

Template-directed catalysis of a multi-step reaction pathway for nonenzymatic RNA primer extension.

Walton T, Pazienza L, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry. 2019 Feb PDF .

Using Imaging Flow Cytometry to Quantify and Optimize Giant Vesicle Production by Water-in-oil Emulsion Transfer Methods

Matsushita-Ishiodori Y, Hanczyc MM, Wang A, Szostak JW, Yomo T.
Langmuir. 2019 Feb PDF .

Core-Shell Modeling of Light Scattering by Vesicles: Effect of Size, Contents, and Lamellarity

Wang A, Chan Miller C, Szostak JW
Biophys J. 2019 Feb PDF .

2018

Inosine, but none of the 8-oxo-purines, is a plausible component of a primordial version of RNA

Kim SC, O'Flaherty DK, Zhou L, Lelyveld VS, Szostak JW .
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Dec PDF .

Catalysis of Template-directed Nonenzymatic RNA Copying by Iron (II)

Jin L, Engelhart AE, Zhang W, Adamala KP, Szostak JW .
J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Nov PDF.

Protocells and RNA Self-Replication

Joyce GF and Szostak JW .
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2018 Sept PDF.

Mettl1/Wdr4-Mediated m7G tRNA Methylome Is Required for Normal mRNA Translation and Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation

Lin S, Liu Q, Lelyveld V, Choe J, Szostak JW and Gregory R.
Mol Cell. 2018 July PDF.

A Fluorescent G-Quadruplex Sensor for Chemical RNA Copying

Giurgiu C, Wright TH, O'Flaherty DK, Szostak JW .
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 June PDF .

Crystallographic observation of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension

Zhang W, Walton T, Li L, Szostak JW .
Elife. 2018 May PDF.

Copying of Mixed-Sequence RNA Templates inside Model Protocells

O'Flaherty DK, Kamat NP, Mirza FN, Li L, Prywes N, Szostak JW .
J Am Chem Soc. 2018 April PDF.

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Jin L, Engelhart AE, Adamala KP, Szostak JW .
J Vis Exp. 2018 Feb PDF.

Fatty Acid/Phospholipid Blended Membranes: A Potential Intermediate State in Protocellular Evolution

Jin L, Kamat NP, Jena S, Szostak JW .
Small. 2018 Feb PDF.

Structural Rationale for the Enhanced Catalysis of Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension by a Downstream Oligonucleotide

Zhang W, Tam CP, Zhou L, Oh SS, Wang J, Szostak JW .
J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Feb PDF.

Solvated-electron production using cyanocuprates is compatible with the UV-environment on a Hadean-Archaean Earth

Todd ZR, Fahrenbach AC, Manani CJ, Ranjan S, Björkbom A, Szostak JW, Sasselov DD .
Chem Commun (Camb). 2018 Jan PDF.

Synthesis of a Nonhydrolyzable Nucleotide Phosphoroimidazolide Analogue That Catalyzes Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension

Tam CP, Zhou L, Fahrenbach AC, Zhang W, Walton T, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Jan PDF.

2017

A Mechanistic Explanation for the Regioselectivity of Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension

Giurgiu C, Li L, O'Flaherty DK, Tam CP, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Nov PDF.

A kinetic model of nonenzymatic RNA polymerization by cytidine-5'-phosphoro-2-aminoimidazolide

Walton T, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry. 2017 Oct PDF.

Comparative analysis of LIN28-RNA binding sites identified at single nucleotide resolution

Ransey E, Björkbom A, Lelyveld VS, Biecek P, Pantano L, Szostak JW, Sliz P.
RNA Biol. 2017 Sep PDF.

UV-light-driven prebiotic synthesis of iron‒sulfur clusters

Bonfio C, Valer L, Scintilla S, Shah S, Evans DJ, Jin L, Szostak JW, Sasselov DD, Sutherland JD, Mansy SS.
Nat Chem. 2017 Jul . PDF.

Insight into the mechanism of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension from the structure of an RNA-GpppG complex

Zhang W, Tam CP, Walton T, Fahrenbach AC, Birrane G, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Jul PDF.

Common and Potentially Prebiotic Origin for Precursors of Nucleotide Synthesis and Activation

Fahrenbach AC, Giurgiu C, Tam CP, Li L, Hongo Y, Aono M, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Jul PDF.

Divergent prebiotic synthesis of pyrimidine and 8-oxo-purine ribonucleotides

Stairs S, Nikmal A, Bučar DK, Zheng SL, Szostak JW, Powner MW.
Nat Commun. 2017 May PDF.

The Narrow Road to the Deep Past: In Search of the Chemistry of the Origin of Life

Szostak JW.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2017 Sep.

Enhanced Nonenzymatic RNA Copying with 2-Aminoimidazole Activated Nucleotides

Li L, Prywes N, Tam CP, O'Flaherty DK, Lelyveld VS, Izgu EC, Pal A, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Mar. PDF.

Downstream Oligonucleotides Strongly Enhance the Affinity of GMP to RNA Primer-Template Complexes

Tam CP, Fahrenbach AC, Björkbom A, Prywes N, Izgu EC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Jan. PDF.

2016

Unusual Base-Pairing Interactions in Monomer-Template Complexes

Zhang W, Tam CP, Wang J, Szostak JW.
ACS Cent Sci. 2016 Dec. PDF.

N-Carboxyanhydride-Mediated Fatty Acylation of Amino Acids and Peptides for Functionalization of Protocell Membranes

Izgu EC, Björkbom A, Kamat NP, Lelyveld VS, Zhang W, Jia TZ, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Dec. PDF.

Effect of terminal 3'-hydroxymethyl modification of an RNA primer on nonenzymatic primer extension

Pal A, Das RS, Zhang W, Lang M, McLaughlin LW, Szostak JW.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2016 Sep. PDF.

Oligoarginine peptides slow strand annealing and assist non-enzymatic RNA replication

Jia TZ, Fahrenbach AC, Kamat NP, Adamala KP, Szostak JW.
Nat Chem. 2016 Sep.

On the origin of life

Szostak JW.
Medicina (B Aires). 2016 PDF.

A Highly Reactive Imidazolium-Bridged Dinucleotide Intermediate in Nonenzymatic RNA Primer Extension.

Walton T, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Sep PDF.

Nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates containing all four letters is catalyzed by activated oligonucleotides.

Prywes N, Blain JC, Del Frate F, Szostak JW.
Elife. 2016 Jun. PDF.

Thiolated uridine substrates and templates improve the rate and fidelity of ribozyme-catalyzed RNA copying.

Prywes N, Michaels YS, Pal A, Oh SS, Szostak JW.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2016 May. PDF.

A simple physical mechanism enables homeostasis in primitive cells.

Engelhart AE, Adamala KP, Szostak JW.
Nat Chem. 2016 May. PDF.

Collaboration between primitive cell membranes and soluble catalysts.

Adamala KP, Engelhart AE, Szostak JW.
Nat Commun. 2016 Mar. PDF.

Experimental and computational evidence for a loose transition state in phosphoroimidazolide hydrolysis.

Li L, Lelyveld VS, Prywes N, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Mar. PDF.

Synthesis of activated 3'-amino-3'-deoxy-2-thio-thymidine, a superior substrate for the nonenzymatic copying of nucleic acid templates.

Izgu EC, Oh SS, Szostak JW.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2016 Feb. PDF.

2015

Pinpointing RNA-protein cross-Links with site-specific stable isotope-labeled oligonucleotides.

Lelyveld VS, Björkbom A, Ransey EM, Sliz P, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Dec PDF.

Bidirectional direct sequencing of noncanonical RNA by two-dimensional analysis of mass chromatograms.

Björkbom A, Lelyveld VS, Zhang S, Zhang W, Tam CP, Blain JC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Nov PDF.

Thermodynamic insights into 2-thiouridine-enhanced RNA hybridization.

Larsen AT, Fahrenbach AC, Sheng J, Pian J, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2015 Sep PDF.

Electrostatic localization of RNA to protocell membranes by cationic hydrophobic peptides.

Kamat NP, Tobe S, Hill IT, Szostak JW.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2015 Sep PDF.

Construction of a liposome dialyzer for the preparation of high-value, small-volume liposome formulations.

Adamala K, Engelhard AE, Kamat NP, Jin L, Szostak JW.
Nat Protoc 2015 Jun. PDF.

Uncovering the thermodynamics of monomer binding for RNA replication.

Izgu EC, Fahrenbach AC, Zhang N, Li L, Zhang W, Larsen AT, Blain JC, Szostak, JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Apr. PDF.

Replacing uridine with 2-thiouridine enhances the rate and fidelity of nonenzymatic RNA primer extension.

Heuberger BD, Pal A, Del Frate F, Topkar VV, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Feb. PDF.

Generation of functional RNAs from inactive oligonucleotide complexes by non-enzymatic primer extension.

Adamala K, Engelhart AE, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Jan. PDF.

2014

Controlled growth of filamentous fatty acid vesicles under flow.

Hentrich C, Szostak JW.
Langmuir 2014 Dec. PDF.

Chain-length heterogeneity allows for the assembly of fatty acid vesicles in dilute solutions.

Budin I, Prywes N, Zhang N, Szostak JW.
Biophys J. 2014 Oct. PDF.

Crystal structure studies of RNA duplexes containing s(2)U:A and s(2)U:U base pairs.

Sheng J, Larsen A, Heuberger BD, Blain JC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Oct. PDF.

Progress toward synthetic cells.

Blain JC, Szostak JW.
Annu Rev Biochem. 2014 Mar. PDF.

Rapid RNA exchange in aqueous two-phase system and coacervate droplets.

Jia TZ, Hentrich C, Szostak JW.
Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2014 Feb. PDF.

Structural insights into the effects of 2'-5' linkages on the RNA duplex.

Sheng J, Li L, Engelhart AE, Gan J, Wang J, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2014 Feb. PDF.

The free energy landscape of pseudorotation in 3'-5' and 2'-5' linked nucleic acids.

Li L, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Feb. PDF.

Synthesis and nonenzymatic template-directed polymerization of 2'-amino-2'-deoxythreose nucleotides.

Blain JC, Ricardo A, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Feb. PDF.

2013

Nonenzymatic template-directed RNA synthesis inside model protocells.

Adamala K, Szostak JW.
Science. 2013 Nov. PDF.

Preparation of fatty acid micelles.

Zhu TF, Budin I, Szostak JW.
Methods Enzymol. 2013 PDF.

Vesicle extrusion through polycarbonate track-etched membranes using a hand-held mini-extruder.

Zhu TF, Budin I, Szostak JW.
Methods Enzymol. 2013 PDF.

Preparation of fatty acid or phospholipid vesicles by thin-film rehydration.

Zhu TF, Budin I, Szostak JW.
Methods Enzymol. 2013 PDF.

mRNA display: from basic principles to macrocycle drug discovery.

Josephson K, Ricardo A, Szostak JW.
Drug Discov Today. 2013 Oct PDF.

Fast and accurate nonenzymatic copying of an RNA-like synthetic genetic polymer.

Zhang S, Blain JC, Zielinska D, Gryaznov SM, Szostak JW. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013 Oct PDF.

Competition between model protocells driven by an encapsulated catalyst.

Adamala K, Szostak JW.
Nat Chem. 2013 Jun PDF.

Functional RNAs exhibit tolerance for non-heritable 2'-5' versus 3'-5' backbone heterogeneity.

Engelhart AE, Powner MW, Szostak JW.
Nat Chem. 2013 May. PDF.

Synthesis of N3'-P5'-linked phosphoramidate DNA by nonenzymatic template-directed primer extension.

Zhang S, Zhang N, Blain JC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Jan. PDF.

2012

Concentration-driven growth of model protocell membranes.

Budin I, Debnath A, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Dec. PDF.

Multicomponent assembly of proposed DNA precursors in water.

Powner MW, Zheng SL, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Aug PDF.

The eightfold path to non-enzymatic RNA replication.

Szostak JW.
Journal of Systems Chemistry 2012, 3:2. PDF.

Photochemically driven redox chemistry induces protocell membrane pearling and division.

Zhu TF, Adamala K, Zhang N, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun. PDF.

In vitro selection of functional lantipeptides.

Hofmann FT, Szostak JW, Seebeck FP.
J Am Chem Soc. 2012 May. PDF.

In vitro selection of highly modified cyclic peptides that act as tight binding inhibitors.

Guillen Schlippe YV, Hartman MC, Josephson K, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Mar. PDF.

Activated ribonucleotides undergo a sugar pucker switch upon binding to a single-stranded RNA template.

Zhang N, Zhang S, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Feb. PDF.

Attempts to define life do not help to understand the origin of life.

Szostak JW.
J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2012 Feb. PDF.

2011

An optimal degree of physical and chemical heterogeneity for the origin of life?

Szostak JW.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2011 Oct. PDF.

Artificial lantipeptides from in vitro translations.

Seebeck FP, Ricardo A, Szostak JW.
Chem Commun (Camb). 2011 Jun. PDF.

Exploding vesicles.

Zhu TF, Szostak JW.
Journal of Systems Chemistry 2011, 2:4. PDF.

Evolution of functional nucleic acids in the presence of nonheritable backbone heterogeneity.

Trevino SG, Zhang N, Elenko MP, Luptak A, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011 Aug. PDF. Supporting Information.

Physical effects underlying the transition from primitive to modern cell membranes.

Budin I, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011 Mar. PDF. Supporting Information.

Optimal codon choice can improve the efficiency and fidelity of N-methyl amino acid incorporation into peptides by in vitro translation.

Subtelny AO, Hartman MCT, Szostak JW.
Angew Chem Int Ed. 2011 Mar. PDF.

2010

Chemoselective multicomponent one-pot assembly of purine precursors in water.

Powner MW, Sutherland JD, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Nov 2;132:16677-16688. PDF.

Single-molecule binding experiments on long time scales. Rev Sci Instrum.

Elenko MP, Szostak JW, van Oijen AM.
2010 Aug. PDF.

The origins of cellular life.

Schrum JS, Zhu TF, Szostak JW.
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2010 May. PDF.

Effect of stalling after mismatches on the error catastrophe in nonenzymatic nucleic acid replication.

Rajamani S, Ichida JK, Antal T, Treco DA, Leu K, Nowak MA, Szostak JW, Chen IA.
J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Apr 28;132(16):5880-5. PDF. Supporting Information.

Expanding roles for diverse physical phenomena during the origin of life.

Budin I, Szostak JW.
Annu Rev Biophys. 2010 Jun. PDF.

2009

Flip-flop-induced relaxation of bending energy: implications for membrane remodeling.

Bruckner RJ, Mansy SS, Ricardo A, Mahadevan L, Szostak JW.
Biophys J. 2009 Dec. PDF. Supporting Information.

Efficient and rapid template-directed nucleic acid copying using 2'-amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleoside-5'-phosphorimidazolide monomers.

Schrum JP, Ricardo A, Krishnamurthy M, Blain JC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Oct. PDF. Supporting Information.

Reconstructing the emergence of cellular life through the synthesis of model protocells.

Mansy SS, Szostak JW.
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 2009 Sep. PDF

Origin of life on earth.

Ricardo A, Szostak JW.
Sci Am. 2009 Sep;301(3):54-61.

Conformational analysis of DNA repair intermediates by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

Lin S, Horning DP, Szostak JW, Chaput JC.
J Phys Chem A. 2009 Sep. PDF. Supporting Information.

Formation of protocell-like vesicles in a thermal diffusion column.

Budin I, Bruckner RJ, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Jul. PDF. Supporting Information. Supporting Information (AVI VIDEO).

Single-molecule imaging of an in vitro-evolved RNA aptamer reveals homogeneous ligand binding kinetics.

Elenko MP, Szostak JW, van Oijen AM.
J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Jul. PDF. Supporting Information. Supporting Information (AVI VIDEO).

Origins of life: Systems chemistry on early Earth.

Szostak JW.
Nature. 2009 May. PDF

Preparation of large monodisperse vesicles.

Zhu TF, Szostak JW.
PLoS ONE. 2009 Apr. PDF

Coupled growth and division of model protocell membranes.

Zhu TF, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Mar. PDF. Supporting Information. Supporting Information (Videos).

Enzymatic primer-extension with glycerol-nucleoside triphosphates on DNA templates.

Chen JJ, Tsai CH, Cai X, Horhota AT, McLaughlin LW, Szostak JW.
PLoS ONE. 2009 Mar. PDF

N2'-->p3' phosphoramidate glycerol nucleic acid as a potential alternative genetic system.

Chen JJ, Cai X, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Feb. PDF. Supporting Information.

2008

Thermostability of model protocell membranes.

Mansy SS, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Sep. PDF

Template-directed synthesis of a genetic polymer in a model protocell.

Mansy SS, Schrum JP, Krishnamurthy M, Tobé S, Treco DA, Szostak JW.
Nature. 2008 Jun. PDF. Supporting Information.

Ribosomal synthesis of N-methyl peptides.

Subtelny AO, Hartman MC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2008 May. PDF

Metal-ion catalyzed polymerization in the eutectic phase in water-ice: A possible approach to template-directed RNA polymerization.

Monnard PA, Szostak JW.
J Inorg Biochem. 2008 May.

2007

An expanded set of amino Acid analogs for the ribosomal translation of unnatural peptides.

Hartman MC, Josephson K, Lin CW, Szostak JW.
PLoS ONE. 2007 Oct. PDF

Enzymatic synthesis of DNA on glycerol nucleic acid templates without stable duplex formation between product and template.

Tsai CH, Chen J, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Sep. PDF Supporting information

Selection and evolution of enzymes from a partially randomized non-catalytic scaffold.

Seelig B, Szostak JW.
Nature. 2007 Aug. PDF Supporting information

Structure and evolutionary analysis of a non-biological ATP-binding protein.

Mansy SS, Zhang J, Kummerle R, Nilsson M, Chou JJ, Szostak JW, Chaput JC.
J Mol Biol. 2007 Aug. PDF

Structural insights into the evolution of a non-biological protein: importance of surface residues in protein fold optimization.

Smith MD, Rosenow MA, Wang M, Allen JP, Szostak JW, Chaput JC.
PLoS ONE. 2007 May 23;2:e467. PDF

Functional information and the emergence of biocomplexity.

Hazen RM, Griffin PL, Carothers JM, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May. PDF

2',3'-Dideoxy-3'-thionucleoside triphosphates: syntheses and polymerase substrate activities.

Meena, Sam M, Pierce K, Szostak JW, McLaughlin LW.
Org Lett. 2007 Mar. PDF Supporting Information1 Supporting Information2

2006

Glycerol nucleoside triphosphates: synthesis and polymerase substrate activities.

Horhota AT, Szostak JW, McLaughlin LW.
Org Lett. 2006 Nov. PDF Supporting Information

Telomeres and telomerase: the path from maize, Tetrahymena and yeast to human cancer and aging.

Blackburn EH, Greider CW, Szostak JW.
Nat Med. 2006 Oct. PDF

A genomewide search for ribozymes reveals an HDV-like sequence in the human CPEB3 gene.

Salehi-Ashtiani K, Luptak A, Litovchick A, Szostak JW.
Science. 2006 Sep. Article Online   Supporting Information  

Mineral surface directed membrane assembly.

Hanczyc MM, Mansy SS, Szostak JW.
Orig Life Evol Biosph. 2007 Feb. PDF  

Aptamers selected for higher-affinity binding are not more specific for the target ligand.

Carothers JM, Oestreich SC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Jun. PDF   Supporting Information  

Ribosomal synthesis of dehydroalanine-containing peptides.

Seebeck FP, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Jun. PDF   Supporting Information  

Enzymatic aminoacylation of tRNA with unnatural amino acids.

Hartman MC, Josephson K, Szostak JW. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar. PDF   Supporting Information  

Solution structure of an informationally complex high-affinity RNA aptamer to GTP.

Carothers JM, Davis JH, Chou JJ, Szostak JW.
RNA. 2006 Apr. PDF  

Directed evolution of ATP binding proteins from a zinc finger domain by using mRNA display.

Cho GS, Szostak JW.
Chem Biol. 2006 Feb. PDF   Supporting Information  

2005

Shrink-wrap vesicles.

Fujikawa SM, Chen IA, Szostak JW.
Langmuir. 2005 Dec. PDF   Supporting Information  

In vitro selection of RNA aptamers against a composite small molecule-protein surface.

Plummer KA, Carothers JM, Yoshimura M, Szostak JW, Verdine GL.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2005 Sep. PDF   Supporting Information  

RNA catalysis in model protocell vesicles.

Chen IA, Salehi-Ashtiani K, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Sep. PDF   Supporting Information  

High fidelity TNA synthesis by Therminator polymerase.

Ichida JK, Horhota A, Zou K, McLaughlin LW, Szostak JW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2005 Sep. PDF  

Ribosomal synthesis of unnatural peptides.

Josephson K, Hartman MC, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Aug. PDF   Supporting Information  

Kinetic analysis of an efficient DNA-dependent TNA polymerase.

Horhota A, Zou K, Ichida JK, Yu B, McLaughlin LW, Szostak JW, Chaput JC.
J Am Chem Soc. 2005 May. PDF   Supporting Information  

Scanning the human proteome for calmodulin-binding proteins.

Shen X, Valencia CA, Szostak JW, Dong B, Liu R.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr. PDF   Supporting Information  

Semipermeable lipid bilayers exhibit diastereoselectivity favoring ribose.

Sacerdote MG, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr. PDF   Supporting Information  

Synthesis of alpha-L-threofuranosyl nucleoside triphosphates (tNTPs).

Zou K, Horhota A, Yu B, Szostak JW, McLaughlin LW.
Org Lett. 2005 Apr 14;7(8):1485-7. PDF   Supporting Information1     Supporting Information2  

An in vitro selection system for TNA.

Ichida JK, Zou K, Horhota A, Yu B, McLaughlin LW, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2005 Mar 9;127(9):2802-3. PDF   Supporting Information

2004

Replicating vesicles as models of primitive cell growth and division.

Hanczyc MM, Szostak JW.
Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2004 Dec. PDF  

The emergence of competition between model protocells.

Chen, IA, Roberts, RW, Szostak, JW.
Science 2004 Sep. PDF   Supporting Information  

A kinetic study of the growth of fatty acid vesicles.

Chen IA, Szostak JW.
Biophys J. 2004 Aug. PDF

A small aptamer with strong and specific recognition of the triphosphate of ATP.

Sazani PL, Larralde R, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2004 Jul. PDF Supporting Information

Evolutionary optimization of a nonbiological ATP binding protein for improved folding stability.

Chaput JC, Szostak JW.
Chem Biol. 2004 Jun. PDF

Membrane growth can generate a transmembrane pH gradient in fatty acid vesicles.

Chen IA, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 May. PDF

Informational complexity and functional activity of RNA structures.

Carothers JM, Oestreich SC, Davis JH, Szostak JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2004 Apr.PDF   Supporting Information   Extra Materials

2003

Experimental models of primitive cellular compartments: encapsulation, growth, and division.

Hanczyc, MM, Fujikawa, SM, Szostak, JW.
Science. 2003 Oct. PDF

TNA synthesis by DNA polymerases.

Chaput, JC, Szostak, JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Aug. PDF

A novel, modification-dependent ATP-binding aptamer selected from an RNA library incorporating a cationic functionality.

Vaish, NK, Larralde, R. Fraley, AW, Szostak, JW, McLaughlin, LW.
Biochemistry. 2003 Jul. PDF

Functional information: molecular messages.

Szostak, JW.
Nature. 2003 Jun. PDF

Selective labeling and detection of specific RNAs in an RNA mixture.

Huang, Z, and Szostak, JW.
Anal Biochem. 2003 Apr. PDF

DNA polymerase-mediated DNA synthesis on a TNA template.

Chaput, JC, Ichida, JK, Szostak, JW.
J Am Chem Soc. 2003 Jan. PDF

2002

Isolation of high-affinity GTP aptamers from partially structured RNA libraries.

Davis, JH, Szostak, JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Sep. PDF

Identification of epitope-like consensus motifs using mRNA display.

Burgstaller P, Hale S, Sun L, Roberts RW, Szostak JW, Wagner R.
J Mol Recognit. 2002 May-Jun;15(3):126-34.

2001

In vitro evolution suggests multiple origins for the hammerhead ribozyme.

Salehi-Ashtiani K, Szostak JW.
Nature. 2001 Nov. PD

Synthesizing Life.

Szostak JW, Bartel, DP and Luisi, PL.
Nature. 2001. PDF

Functional proteins from a random-sequence library.

Keefe AD, Szostak JW.
Nature. 2001 Apr. PDF

One-step purification of recombinant proteins using a nanomolar-affinity streptavidin-binding peptide, the SBP-Tag.

Keefe AD, Wilson, DS, Seelig, B, and Szostak JW.
Protein Expression and Purification. 2001. PDF

The use of mRNA display to select high-affinity protein-binding peptides.

Wilson DS, Keefe AD, Szostak JW.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Mar. PDF

2000

Constructing high complexity synthetic libraries of long ORFs using in vitro selection.

Cho, G, Keefe, AD, Wilson, DS, Liu, R and Szostak, JW.
J.Mol.Biol. 2000; 297:309-319 PDF supplementary information.

Expanding the structural and functional diversity of RNA: analog uridine triphosphates as candidates for in vitro selection of nucleic acids.

Vaish NK, Fraley AW, Szostak JW, McLaughlin LW.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2000 Sep 1;28(17):3316-22. PDF

Ribozyme-catalyzed tRNA aminoacylation.

Lee N, Bessho Y, Wei K, Szostak JW, Suga H.
Nat Struct Biol. 2000 Jan;7(1):28-33. PDF

Optimized synthesis of RNA-protein fusions for in vitro protein selection.

Liu R, Barrick JE, Szostak JW, Roberts RW. Methods Enzymol. 2000;318:268-93.

1999

In vitro Selection of functional nucleic acids.

Wilson DW, Szostak JW.
Ann. Rev. Biochem., 1999; 68:611-648. PDF

1998

In vitro selection and directed evolution.

Szostak JW.
1998 Harvey Lecture Series. 1997-98;93:95-118. Review.

Isolation and characterization of fluorophore-binding RNA aptamers.

Holeman LA, Robinson SL, Szostak JW and Wilson C. Folding &
Design, 1998; 3:423-431.

Isolation of a fluorophore-specific DNA aptamer with weak redox activity.

Wilson C, Szostak JW.
Chem. Biol., 1998; 5: 609-617.

Functional requirements for specific ligand recognition by a biotin-binding RNA pseudoknot.

Wilson C, Nix J, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry 1998; 37:14410-9. PDF

Unusual metal ion catalysis in an acyl transferase ribozyme.

Suga H, Cowan JA, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry 1998; 37:10118-10125. PDF

Structural and kinetic characterization of an acyl transferase ribozyme.

Suga H, Lohse P, Szostak JW.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998; 120: 1151-1156. PDF

1997

RNA-peptide fusions for the in Vitro selection of peptides and proteins.

Roberts RW, Szostak JW.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997; 94: 12297-12302. PDF

Isolation of novel ribozymes that ligate AMP-activated RNA substrates.

Hager AJ, Szostak JW.
Chem. Biol. 1997; 4:607-617.

Mutant ATP-Binding RNA aptamers reveal the structural basis for ligand binding.

Dieckmann T, Butcher SE, Sassanfar M, Szostak JW and Feigon J.
J. Mol. Biol. 1997; 273: 467- 478. PDF

Introduction: Combinatorial Chemistry.

Szostak JW.
Chem. Rev. 1997; 97 (2): 347-348, in: Chemical Reviews: Combinatorial Chemistry, a Thematic Issue, Guest Editor Jack W. Szostak.

1996

Ribozymes: aiming at RNA replication and translation.

Hager AJ, Pollard JD, Szostak JW.
Chem. Biol. 1996; 3:717-725.

3' End-Labeling of RNA with DNA Polymerase.

Huang Z, Szostak JW.
Nuc. Acids Res. 1996; 24: 4360-4361. PDF

Ribozyme-catalysed amino acid transfer reactions.

Lohse P, Szostak JW.
Nature 1996; 381: 442-444.

Non-enzymatic, template-directed ligation of oligoribonucleotides is highly regioselective for the formation of 3'-5' phosphodiester bonds.

Rohatgi R, Bartel D, Szostak JW.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996; 118: 3340-3334. PDF

Kinetic and mechanistic analysis of nonenzymatic, template-directed oligonucleotide ligation.

Rohatgi R, Bartel D, Szostak JW.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996; 118: 3332-3339 PDF

Chance and necessity in the selection of nucleic acid catalysts.

Lorsch JR, Szostak JW.
Accounts Chem. Res. 1996; 29: 103-110. PDF

In vitro selection of nucleic acid sequences that bind small molecules.

Lorsch JR, Szostak JW.
1996. Chpt. 4 in Combinatorial Libraries: Synthesis, Screening and Application Potential. Ed. R. Cortese. Publ. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.

1995

Reverse transcriptase reads through a 2'-5' linkage and a 2'-thiophosphate in a template.

Lorsch JR, Bartel DP, Szostak JW.
Nuc. Acids Res. 1995; 23: 2811-2814.

Structurally complex and highly active RNA ligases derived from random RNA sequences.

Ekland EH, Szostak JW, Bartel DP.
Science 1995; 269: 364-370. PDF

A DNA metalloenzyme with DNA ligase activity.

Cuenod B, Szostak JW.
Nature 1995; 375: 611-614.

Isolation of a ribozyme with 5'-5' ligase activity.

Chapman KB, Szostak JW.
Chemistry and Biology 1995; 2: 325-333.

In vitro evolution of a self-alkylating ribozyme.

Wilson CW, Szostak JW.
Nature 1995; 374: 777-782.

Total chemical synthesis of a ribozyme derived from a group I intron.

Whoriskey S, Usman N, Szostak JW.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1995; 92: 2465-2469.

RNA aptamers that bind flavin and nicotinamide redox cofactors.

Lauhon CT, Szostak JW.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995; 117: 1246-1257. PDF

DNA aptamer that binds adenosine and ATP.

Huizenga DE, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry 1995; 34: 656-665.

1994

Study of RNA-protein recognition by in vitro selection.

Bartel DP, Szostak JW.
in RNA- Protein Interactions, eds. K. Nagai and I.W. Mattaj, Oxford University Press 1994.

Suppression of mutations in the core of the Tetrahymena ribozyme by spermidine, ethanol and by substrate stabilization.

Hanna M, Szostak JW.
Nuc. Acids Res. 1994; 22: 5326-5331.

In vitro evolution of new ribozymes with polynucleotide kinase activity.

Lorsch JR, Szostak JW.
Nature 1994; 371:31-36.

In vitro selection of catalytic RNAs.

Chapman KB, Szostak JW.
Current Opinions in Structural Biology 1994; 4:618-622.

Template-directed oligonucleotide assembly reactions catalyzed by a minimally structured ribozyme derived from a group I intron.

Green R, Szostak JW.
pp. 277-283 in, Structural Biology: The State of the Art, Proceedings of the Eighth Conversation, State University of New York, Albany, NY 1993 Eds. Ramaswamy H. Sarma and Mukti H. Sarma, Adenine Press 1994

NMR studies of the high-affinity Rev binding site of the Rev responsive element of HIV-1 mRNA: base pairing in the core binding element.

Peterson RD, Bartel DP, Szostak JW, Horvath SJ, Feigon J.
Biochemistry 1994; 33: 5357-5366.

In vitro selection of RNA aptamers specific for cyanocobalamin.

Lorsch J, Szostak, JW.
Biochemistry 1994; 33:973-982.

Evidence that the guanosine substrate of the tetrahymena ribozyme is bound in the anti conformation and that N7 contributes to binding.

Lin, C-W, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry 1994; 33:2703-2707.

In vitro genetic analysis of the hinge region between helical elements P5-P4-P6 and P7-P3-P8 in the sunY group I self-splicing intron.

Green R, Szostak JW.
J. Mol. Biol. 1994; 235:140-155.

1993

Isolation of a new ribozymes from a large pool of random sequences.

Bartel DP, Szostak JW.
Science 1993; 261:1411-1418. PDF

An RNA motif that binds ATP.

Sassanfar M, Szostak JW.
Nature 1993; 364: 550-553.

Selection of functional RNA and DNA molecules from randomized sequences.

Famulok M, Szostak JW.
pp. 271-284, in Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, ed. F. Eckstein and D.M.J. Lilley, Springer-Verlag, 1993.

In vitro selection of functional RNA sequences.

Szostak, J.W. and Ellington, A.E.
pp. 511-533 in "The RNA World", ed. R. Gesteland and J. Atkins; Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1993.

Triplet extension: a novel strategy for RNA catalysed RNA replication.

Doudna JA, Szostak JW.
Biochemistry 1993; 32:2111-2115.

1992

Selection of a ribozyme that functions as a superior template in a self-copying reaction.

Green R and Szostak JW.
Science 1992; 258:1910-1915. PDF

Ribozyme catalysis.

Wilson CL, Szostak JW.
Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 1992; 2:749-756.

In vitro selection of specific ligand binding nucleic acids.

Famulok M, Szostak JW.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1992; 31: 979-988.

Stereospecific recognition of tryptophan agarose by in vitro selected RNA.

Famulok M, Szostak JW.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992; 114: 3990-3991.

In vitro genetics.

Szostak JW.
Trends in Biochem. Sci. 1992; 17: 89-93.

Selection in vitro of single-stranded DNA molecules that fold into specific ligand binding structures.

Ellington AE, Szostak JW.
Nature 1992; 355:850-852.

1991

Synthesis of RNA containing inosine: analysis of the sequence requirements for the 5' splice-site of the Tetrahymena group I intron.

Green R, Szostak JW, Benner SA, Rich A, Usman N.
Nuc. Acids Res., 1991; 19: 4161-4166.

HIV-1 Rev regulation involves recognition of non-Watson-Crick base-pairs in viral RNA.

Bartel DP, Zapp M, Green M, Szostak JW.
Cell, 1991; 67: 529-536.

In vitro genetic analysis: selection and amplification of rare functional nucleic acids.

Green R, Ellington AD, Bartel DP, Szostak JW.
Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymol., 1991; 2: 75-86.

Template-directed primer extension catalyzed by the Tetrahymena ribozyme.

Bartel DP, Szostak JW.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 1991; 11: 3390-3394.

A multi-subunit ribozyme that is a catalyst of and a template for complementary strand RNA synthesis.

Doudna JA, Couture S, Szostak JW.
Science 1991; 251: 1605-1608.

1990

Chemical synthesis of oligoribonucleotides containing 2-aminopurine: Substrates for the investigation of ribozyme function.

Doudna JA, Szostak JW, Rich A, Usman N.
J. Org. Chem. 1990; 55: 5547-5549.

Phylogenetic and genetic evidence for base-triples in the catalytic domain of group I introns.

Couture S, Ellington AD, Gerber AS, Cherry JM, Doudna JA, Green R, Hanna M, Pace U, Rajogopal J, Szostak JW.
Nature, 1990; 347: 578-580.

In vitro selection of RNA molecules that bind specific ligands.

Ellington AE, Szostak JW.
Nature, 1990; 346: 818-822.

1989

Miniribozymes, small derivatives of the sunY intron, are catalytically active.

Michel F, Hanna M, Green R, Bartel DB, Szostak JW.
Mol. Cell. Biol. 1989; 9: 5480-5483.

Stereochemical course of catalysis by the Tetrahymena ribozyme.

Rajagopal J, Doudna JA, Szostak JW.
Science, 1989; 244: 692-694.

1987

Genetic dissection of an RNA enzyme.

Doudna JA, Cormack BP, Szostak JW.
Cold Spring Harbor Symposia, Vol. LII. 1987.

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