Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on urea-catalyzed phosphorylation reactions

  • Published:
Journal of Molecular Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

When struvite (MgNH4PO4 ⋅ 6H2O) is heated with urea at 65–100°C, inorganic pyrophosphate is formed in good yield. Under similar conditions pyro-phosphate is formed much more slowly from ammonium phosphate or hydroxylapatite. The major products formed by the reaction of nucleotides with urea and either ammonium phosphate or hydroxylapatite are derivatives phosphorylated on the 2′ or 3′ position. With struvite, on the other hand, the main reaction is pyrophosphate bond formation. Yields of up to 25% of uridine diphosphate can be obtained at temperatures as low as 65°C.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beck, A., Lohrmann, R., Orgel, L. E.: Science157, 952 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton, F.: Doctoral Thesis, The University of Rochester (1971)

  • Gabel, N. W., Ponnamperuma, C.: Primordial organic chemistry. In: Ponnamperuma, C., Ed., Exobiology. London: North-Holland Publishing Co. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Handschuh, G. J., Orgel, L. E.: Science179, 483 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipmann, F.: Projecting back on the evolution of biosynthesis. In: Fox, S. W., Ed. The origins of prebiological systems. New York: Academic Press 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Lohrmann, R., Orgel, L. E.: Science171, 490 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. F.: Blood-bone exchange. In: Frost, G., Ed., Bone biodynamics. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., Inc. 1964

    Google Scholar 

  • Osterberg, R., Orgel, L. E.: J. molec. Evolution1, 241 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabinowitz, J., Chang, S., Ponnamperuma, C.: Nature (Lond.)218, 442 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, A.: Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)281, 477 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinman, G., Lemmon, R. M., Calvin, M.: Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)52, 27 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulston, J., Lohrmann, R., Orgel, L. E., Miles, H. T.: Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)59, 726 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wazer, J. R. van: Phosphorus and its compounds, vol. I, p. 419. New York: Inter-science Publishers, Inc. 1958

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, P.O.Box 1809, 92112, San Diego, California, USA

    G. J. Handschuh, R. Lohrmann & L. E. Orgel

Authors
  1. G. J. Handschuh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Lohrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. E. Orgel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Handschuh, G.J., Lohrmann, R. & Orgel, L.E. The effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on urea-catalyzed phosphorylation reactions. J Mol Evol 2, 251–262 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01654094

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01654094

Key words

Search

Navigation