Summary
The Pb2+ ion is an effective catalyst for the template-directed condensation of ImpA on poly(U). This reaction generates up to 35% of oligomers 5 or more units long. Furthermore, the product is predominantly 3′–5′-linked (75%) unlike that from the uncatalyzed reaction which is more than 90% 2′–5′-linked. The significance of metal-ion catalysis for prebiotic polynucleotide formation is discussed.
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Abbreviations
- Im:
-
imidazole
- MeIm:
-
1-methylimidazole
- EDTA:
-
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
- A:
-
adenosine
- pA:
-
adenosine 5′-phosphate
- Ap:
-
adenosine 2′(3′)-phosphate
- A > p:
-
adenosine cyclic 2′,3′-phosphate
- pAp:
-
5′-phosphoadenosine 2′(3′)-phosphate
- H2NpA:
-
adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate
- ImpA:
-
adenosine 5′-phosphorimidazolide
- AppA:
-
P1,P2-diadenosine 5′-diphosphate
- (pA)n (n=2,3⋯):
-
oligomers of pA
- (pA)n+ :
-
fraction containing the n-mer and higher oligoadenylates
- (Ap)n, (n=2,3⋯):
-
oligomers of Ap
- A(pA)n, (n=1,2⋯):
-
oligoadenylates terminated by a free 5′-OH group
- ImpA(pA)n, (n=1,2⋯):
-
5′-phosphorimidazolide of an oligoadenylate A(pA)n
References
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The numbers given as superscripts between a nucleoside and a phosphate indicate the type of internucleotide linkage, e.g. A3pA2pA is adenylyl [3′→5′]-adenylyl-[2′→5′]-adenosine; poly (U), polyuridylic acid. A star above the symbol for a nucleoside indicates the position of the radioactive label, e.g. *A 3pA, [8-14C]-adenylyl-[3′→5′]-adenosine. BAP, bacterial alkaline phosphatase (E. coli).
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Sleeper, H.L., Lohrmann, R. & Orgel, L.E. Template-directed synthesis of oligoadenylates catalyzed by Pb2+ ions. J Mol Evol 13, 203–214 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01739480
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01739480