title: Template-directed oligomerization catalyzed by a polynucleotide analog.
abstract: A pyrophosphate-linked analog of polycytidylic acid has been synthesized and shown to catalyze the oligomerization of the complementary monomer 2'-deoxyguanosine 3',5'-bisphosphoimidazolide. Analogs of polynucleotides are of interest in studies of the origins of life as possible precursors of the first RNA molecules. These results demonstrate that such molecules are capable of serving as templates for further synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Exobiology, Faculty of Science, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Visscher
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van der Woerd
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003838:Deoxyadenine Nucleotides; D003845:Deoxycytosine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D003848:Deoxyguanine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D011756:Diphosphates; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011066:Poly C / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011131:Polyribonucleotides / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012322:RNA Precursors; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D003838:Deoxyadenine Nucleotides; D003845:Deoxycytosine Nucleotides; D003848:Deoxyguanine Nucleotides; D011756:Diphosphates; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011131:Polyribonucleotides; D012322:RNA Precursors; D011066:Poly C; C059281:2'-deoxycytidine 3',5'-diphosphate; C059282:2'-deoxyguanosine 3',5'-diphosphoimidazolide