PRIMITIVE MOLECULAR MACHINE SCENARIO FOR THE ORIGIN OF THE THREE BASE CODON COMPOSITION

Abstract. We set up a scenario for the operation of primordial synthesis machines operating in outer space quasi one dimensional channels, where polymers interact with fixed particles. The scheme allows for polymerization, translocation and translation. We will show that under very general con-ditions the particle/polymer interaction potential has spatial regularities with an average distance of three between neighboring minima. We present a model that exhibits how primitive molecular machines may convert the structural properties of the potential into locomotion regularities. On average, polymer movement takes place by shifts with long time intervals every three displacements. We argue that this feature is generic and lies at the origin of the three base codon composition. 1