Nucleic acid-like structures II. Polynucleotide analogues as possible primitive precursors of nucleic acids

Schwartz, Alan W.; Visscher, J.; Bakker, C. G.; Niessen, Juliane

doi:10.1007/bf02386473

Cited by 28 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Many problems have arisen with both the prebiotic synthesis and the stability of ribose (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). To avoid the need for ribose, some authors have preferred to invoke an RNA-like polymer, with a simpler or more accessible backbone, at the start of life (6,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prebiotic cytosine synthesis: A critical analysis and implications for the origin of life

Shapiro

1999

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

159

101

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A number of theories propose that RNA, or an RNA-like substance, played a role in the origin of life. Usually, such hypotheses presume that the Watson-Crick bases were readily available on prebiotic Earth, for spontaneous incorporation into a replicator. Cytosine, however, has not been reported in analyses of meteorites nor is it among the products of electric spark discharge experiments. The reported prebiotic syntheses of cytosine involve the reaction of cyanoacetylene (or its hydrolysis product, cyanoacetaldehyde), with cyanate, cyanogen, or urea. These substances undergo side reactions with common nucleophiles that appear to proceed more rapidly than cytosine formation. To favor cytosine formation, reactant concentrations are required that are implausible in a natural setting. Furthermore, cytosine is consumed by deamination (the half-life for deamination at 25°C is Ϸ340 yr) and other reactions. No reactions have been described thus far that would produce cytosine, even in a specialized local setting, at a rate sufficient to compensate for its decomposition. On the basis of this evidence, it appears quite unlikely that cytosine played a role in the origin of life. Theories that involve replicators that function without the Watson-Crick pairs, or no replicator at all, remain as viable alternatives.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prebiotic cytosine synthesis: A critical analysis and implications for the origin of life

Shapiro

1999

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

159

101

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The final purity was checked by HPLC on a C18 reverse-phase column (Merck). The 2'-deoxyguanosine-3',5'-bisphosphoimidazolide (ImpdGplm) was prepared as described by Schwartz et al (1987) and poly (Leu-Lys) and poly (Arg-Leu) were synthesized according to Brack and CaiUe (1978) and Barbier et al (1984), respectively.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to model a possible prebiotic concentration mechanism, we have studied the effect of 6-sheet-forming polypeptides in concentrating and catalyzing the oligomerization of an activated nucleotide analog. For this purpose we have made use of the deoxynucleoside bisphosphate pdGp, which has been shown to undergo extensive oligomerization, even in the absence of a complementary template, to produce pyrophosphatelinked chains (Schwartz et al 1987). We will show that these polypeptides are effective in catalyzing significant chain elongation of activated oligonucleotide analogs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polypeptide-assisted oligomerization of analogs in dilute aqueous solution

1993

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Poly (Leu-Lys) was shown to assist the oligomerization of activated nucleotide diphosphates. Short oligomers of pdGp are formed in dilute solution. Activated oligomers can complex to the polypeptide and polymerize to form longer oligomers. Oligomers up to the 18-mer can be obtained under these conditions from 1 x 10 .3 M ImpdGpIm in the absence of a preformed polynucleotide template. The total yield of polymerization remains limited although 50% more pyrophosphate bonds are formed in the presence of polypeptide. However, the elongation effect is more significant since the yield of oligomers longer than the decamer is increased by a factor of 60. The possible prebiotic implications of these experiments are discussed.

show abstract

“…According to [29], proteinoids catalyse their own template-directed reproduction. It appears that the microsphere morphology augments these catalytic effects [30].…”

Section: Catalytic Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Proto–Neurons from Abiotic Polypeptides

---,

Adamatzky

2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the origins of life involves dealing with the unresolved question of how the first informational polymers and cell-like structures emerged from prebiotic chemistry. The formation of thermal proteinoids through the heating of mixtures of amino acids, leading to the spontaneous formation of protocells enclosed by membranes, presents a compelling model for the synthesis of polypeptides in an abiogenic context. Recent research has revealed the presence of electrical excitability and signal processing capacities in proteinoids, indicating the possibility of primitive cognitive functions and problem-solving capabilities. The present study provides a comprehensive examination of the features shown by heat proteinoids and their potential significance in the context of the artificial formation of polypeptides during the early stages of Earth’s development. Experiments showcasing the possibility for unconventional computing with proteinoids as well as modelling proteinoid assemblies into synthetic proto-brains are given. Proteinoids’ robust abiogenic production, biomimetic features, and computational capability shed light on potential phases in the evolution of polypeptides and primitive life from the primordial environment.

show abstract

Nucleic acid-like structures II. Polynucleotide analogues as possible primitive precursors of nucleic acids

Cited by 28 publications

References 11 publications

Prebiotic cytosine synthesis: A critical analysis and implications for the origin of life

Prebiotic cytosine synthesis: A critical analysis and implications for the origin of life

Polypeptide-assisted oligomerization of analogs in dilute aqueous solution

Proto–Neurons from Abiotic Polypeptides

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About