Summary
Lysine-rich proteinoids in aqueous solution catalyze the formation of peptides from free amino acids and ATP. This catalytic activity is not found in acidic proteinoids, even though the latter contain some basic amino acid. The pH optimum for the synthesis is about 11, but is appreciable below 8 and above 13. Temperature data indicate an optimum at 20°C or above, with little increase in rate to 60°C. Pyrophosphate can be used instead of ATP, with lesser yields resulting. The ATP-aided syntheses of peptides in aqueous solution occur with several types of proteinous amino acid.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Atkinson, D.E. (1977). Cellular energy metabolism and its regulation. New York: Academic Press
Baltscheffsky, H. (1971). In: Chemical evolution and the origin of life. R. Buvet, C. Ponnamperuma eds., pp. 466–474. Amsterdam: North-Holland
Blum, H.F. (1955). Time's arrow and evolution, p. 170. Princeton: Princeton University Press
Fox, S.W. (1978). In: The nature of life. W.H. Heidcamp ed. Baltimore: University Park Press
Fox, S.W., Dose, K. (1977). Molecular evolution and the origin of life. New York: Dekker
Fox, S.W., Waehneldt, T.V. (1968). Biochim. Biophys. Acta160, 246–249
Fox, S.W., Jungck, J.R., Nakashima, T. (1974). Origins Life5, 227–237
Fox, S.W., Harada, K., Rohlfing, D.L. (1962). In: Polyamino acids, polypeptides, and proteins. M.A. Stahmann, ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press
Fox, S.W., Adachi, T., Stillwell, W., Ishima, Y., Baumann, G. (1978). In: Light transducing membranes. D.W. Deamer ed., pp. 61–75. New York: Academic Press
Francis, S., Margulis, L., Barghoorn, E.S. (1978). Precambr. Res.6, 65–100
Fuller, W.D., Sanchez, R.A., Orgel, L.E. (1972). J. Mol. Biol.67, 25–33
Gray, W.R., Hartley, B.S. (1963). Biochem. J.89, 59P
Harada, K., Fox, S.W. (1964). Nature201, 335–336
Hayatsu, R., Studier, M.H., Anders, E. (1971). Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta39, 935–951
Jungck, J.R., Fox, S.W. (1973). Naturwissenschaften60, 425–427
Miller, S.L., Parris, M. (1964). Nature204, 1248–1250
Mizutani, H., Ponnamperuma, C. (1978). In: Origin of life. H. Noda ed., pp. 273–277. Tokyo: Japan Sc. Soc. Press
Nakashima, T., Fox, S.W. (1972). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.69, 106–108
Oró, J. (1960). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.2, 407–412
Oró, J., Cox, A.C. (1962). Federation Proc.21, 80
Paecht-Horowitz, M., Katchalsky, A. (1973). J. Mol. Evol.2, 91–98
Rohlfing, D.L. (1975). Origins Life6, 203–209
Rohlfing, D.L. (1976). Science193, 68–70
Rohlfing, D.L., McAlhaney, W.W. (1976). BioSystems8, 139–145
Ryan, J.W., Fox, S.W. (1973). BioSystems5, 115–118
Snyder, W.D., Fox, S.W. (1975). BioSystems7, 222–229
Taube, M., Zdrojewski, Z., Samochocka, K., Jezierska, K. (1967). Angew. Chem.79, 239
Warden, J.T., McCullough, J.J., Lemmon, R.M., Calvin, M. (1974). J. Mol. Evol.4, 189–194
Weber, A.L., Caroon, J.M., Warden, J.T., Lemmon, R.M., Calvin, M. (1977). BioSystems8, 277–286
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Proofs should be sent to S.W. Fox, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Evolution, University of Miami, 521 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nakashima, T., Fox, S.W. Synthesis of peptides from amino acids and ATP with lysine-rich proteinoid. J Mol Evol 15, 161–168 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732668
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732668