title: Model of early self-replication based on covalent complementarity for a copolymer of glycerate-3-phosphate and glycerol-3-phosphate.
abstract: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate acts as the substrate in a model of early self-replication of a phosphodiester copolymer of glycerate-3-phosphate and glycerol-3-phosphate.  This model of self-replication is based on covalent complementarity in which information transfer is mediated by a single covalent bond, in contrast to multiple weak interactions that establish complementarity in nucleic acid replication.  This replication model is connected to contemporary biochemistry through its use of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, a central metabolite of glycolysis and photosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005986:Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate / Q000737:chemistry*; D005988:Glyceric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D005994:Glycerophosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006019:Glycolysis; D008956:Models, Chemical; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005988:Glyceric Acids; D005994:Glycerophosphates; D011108:Polymers; D005986:Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate; C005156:3-phosphoglycerate; C029620:alpha-glycerophosphoric acid