Premium
Non‐Enzymatic Synthesis of Polysaccharides, Nucleosides and Nucleic Acids and the Origin of Self‐Reproducing Systems
Author(s) -
Schramm G.,
Grötsch H.,
Pollmann W.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition in english
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 0570-0833
DOI - 10.1002/anie.196200011
Subject(s) - polynucleotide , nucleic acid , nucleotide , chemistry , polysaccharide , polyphosphate , amino acid , biochemistry , enzyme , polymerization , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , phosphate , polymer , gene
Compounds containing free amino, hydroxyl or carbonyl groups can be activated by reaction with polyphosphate ester. If the compounds contain a second functional group, polycondensations are possible; e.g. amino acids → polypeptides, carbohydrates → polysaccharides, nucleotides → polynucleotides. In the presence of polyadenylic acid, polymerization of uridylic acid is speeded up tenfold. This mutual effect of complementary nucleotide strands constitutes the experimental basis for a hypothesis concerning the terrestrial origin of systems capable of self‐reproduction.