Summary
Reaction of 0.20M orthophosphate with 0.20M N,S-diacetylcysteamine in 0.40M imidazole at pH 7.0 or 8.0 under drying conditions at 50°C for 6 days yields pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate in the presence and absence of 0.10M divalent metal ion. The efficiency of utilization of N,S-diacetylcysteamine in the formation of pyrophosphate linkages ranges from 3 – 8% under the above conditions. The thioester, N,S-diacetylcysteamine, and imidazole are required for phosphoanhydride formation.
Reaction of 0.40M orthophosphate with 0.20M N, S-diacetylcysteamine in 0.40M imidazole at ambient temperature for 6 days yields phosphorylimidazole in the absence or presence of 0.05M MgCl2. Phosphorylimidazole and pyrophosphate are formed in the presence of 0.05M CaCl2; pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate are formed with 0.15M CaCl2. The efficiency of utilization of N,S-diacetylcysteamine in the formation of pyrophosphate linkages is roughly 7% at 6 days of reaction with 0.15M CaCl2. The thioester, N,S-diacetylcysteamine and imidazole are required for the formation of phosphoanhydrides. The significance of these reactions to molecular evolution is discussed.
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Abbreviations
- P1 :
-
orthophosphate
- P2 :
-
pyrophosphate
- P3 :
-
tripolyphosphate
- ImP:
-
phosphorylimidazole
- Ac-Csa(Ac):
-
N, S-diacetylcysteamine
- Im:
-
imidazole
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Weber, A.L. Formation of pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, and phosphorylimidazole with the thioester, N, S-diacetylcysteamine, as the condensing agent. J Mol Evol 18, 24–29 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01733208
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01733208