About a formamide-based origin of informational polymers: syntheses of nucleobases and favourable thermodynamic niches for early polymers.
Formamide NH(2)CHO chemistry provides a unitary frame into which several pieces of the origin-of-life puzzle may be adjusted. Synthetic processes were uncovered which, starting from formamide and prebiotically easily available common catalysts, yield all the necessary nucleic bases precursors, including acyclonucleosides. Formamide allows phosphorylations and trans-phosphorylations, favours the micellar aggregation of surfactants and, most importantly, determines conditions in which the formation of nucleic polymers is thermodynamically favoured. In the detected conditions, the phosphoester bonds are more stable in the polymeric than in the monomeric form, thus allowing formation and survival of informational nucleic polymers.
Saladino
Raffaele
R
Dipartimento A.B.A.C., Università della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis, Viterbo 01100, Italy. Saladino@unitus.it
Crestini
Claudia
C
Ciciriello
Fabiana
F
Costanzo
Giovanna
G
Di Mauro
Ernesto
E
D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D005559:Formamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013997:Time Factors
D005559:Formamides; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D009705:Nucleosides; D011108:Polymers; C031066:formamide