Catalytic Synthesis of Polyribonucleic Acid on Prebiotic Rock Glasses
Catalytic Synthesis of Polyribonucleic Acid on Prebiotic Rock Glasses
Reported here are experiments that show that ribonucleoside triphosphates are converted to polyribonucleic acid when incubated with rock glasses similar to those likely present 4.3-4.4 billion years ago on the Hadean Earth surface, where they were formed by impacts and volcanism. This polyribonucleic acid averages 100-300 nucleotides in length, with a substantial fraction of 3',-5'-dinucleotide linkages. Chemical analyses, including classical methods that were used to prove the structure of natural RNA, establish a polyribonucleic acid structure for these products. The polyribonucleic acid accumulated and was stable for months, with a synthesis rate of 2 × 10-3 pmoles of triphosphate polymerized each hour per gram of glass (25°C, pH 7.5). These results suggest that polyribonucleotides were available to Hadean environments if triphosphates were. As many proposals are emerging describing how triphosphates might have been made on the Hadean Earth, the process observed here offers an important missing step in models for the prebiotic synthesis of RNA.
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences (United States) United States
- University of Colorado System United States
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution United States
- Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences Hungary
Earth, Planet, RNA, Glass, Rapid Communication, Catalysis
Earth, Planet, RNA, Glass, Rapid Communication, Catalysis
6 Research products, page 1 of 1
- 1974IsAmongTopNSimilarDocuments
- 1973IsAmongTopNSimilarDocuments
- 1993IsAmongTopNSimilarDocuments
- 1972IsAmongTopNSimilarDocuments
- 2007IsAmongTopNSimilarDocuments
citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).51 popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.Top 1% influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).Top 10% impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.Top 1%
