Summary
A reaction which oligomerizes nucleotides under possible prebiotic conditions has been characterized. Nucleoside monophosphate in the presence of cyanamide at acid pH condenses to form dithymidine pyrophosphate and phosphodiester bonded compounds. Imidazole compounds and activated precursors such as nucleoside triphosphate are not necessary for this oligomerization reaction which produces primarily cyclic oligonucleotides.
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Abbreviations
- CDI:
-
1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide
- DMAPN:
-
dimethylaminopropionitrile
- TMP:
-
thymidine-5′-monophosphate
- TTP:
-
thymidine-5′-triphosphate
- AICA:
-
4-amino-5-imidazole carboxamide
- TLC:
-
thin layer chromatography
- DAMN:
-
diaminomaleonitrile
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Odom, D.G., Brady, J.T. The prebiotic synthesis of deoxythymidine oligonucleotides. J Mol Evol 6, 199–207 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732356
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732356