Non‐Enzymatic Synthesis of Polysaccharides, Nucleosides and Nucleic Acids and the Origin of Self‐Reproducing Systems

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.