Summary
We have prepared substantial quantities of the alternating polymers poly(U-G) and poly(C-A) and have used them as templates for the self-condensation of ImpApC, ImpCpA, ImpGpU and ImpUpG. We find that the condensation of ImpGpU and ImpUpG on poly(C-A) is efficient, the condensation of ImpCpA on poly(U-G) is moderately efficient, while the condensation of ImpApC on poly(U-C) proceeds poorly. In many cases, the product is predominantly 3′-5′-linked.
These reactions demonstrate unequivocally, for the first time, that template-directed reactions occur in double-helical structures. Furthermore, they describe for the first time a pair of reactions in which each of two complementary polymers facilitates the synthesis of the other. The prebiotic significance of these findings is discussed.
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Abbreviations
- Im:
-
imidazole
- MeIm:
-
1-methylimidazole
- EDTA:
-
ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid
- A:
-
adenosine
- C:
-
cytidine
- G:
-
guanosine
- U:
-
uridine
- T:
-
thymidine
- Xp (X = A, C, G or U):
-
nucleoside 3′-phosphate
- pX:
-
nucleoside 5′-phosphate
- XTP:
-
nucleoside 5′-triphosphate
- AppA:
-
P1,P2-diadenosine 5′-diphosphate
- XpY, (X,Y = A, C, G, or U):
-
dinucleoside phosphate e.g. ApC with X = A, Y = C, adenylyl - [3′-5′]-cytidine
- pXpY:
-
dinuleotide with a 5′-phosphate terminal
- (pXpY)n (n = 2,3⋯):
-
oligomer of pXpY
- (Ap)n (n = 2,3⋯):
-
oligomer of Ap
- ImpX:
-
5′-phosphorimidazolide of a nucleoside
- ImpXpY:
-
5′-imidazolide of pXpY
- poly (X-Y):
-
polyribonucleotide with alternating sequence
- poly d (X-Y):
-
polydeoxyribonucleotide with alternating sequence
- ODU:
-
optical density unit measured at 260 nm
- BAP:
-
bacterial alkaline phosphatase E. coli. A star above the symbol for phosphate indicates the position of the radioactive label
- P1 :
-
inorganic phosphate
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Lohrmann, R., Orgel, L.E. Self-condensation of activated dinucleotides on polynucleotide templates with alternating sequences. J Mol Evol 14, 243–250 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732491
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732491