Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleobases, Nucleotides, Oligonucleotides, Pre-RNA and Pre-DNA Molecules

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Prebiotic Chemistry

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Chemistry ((TOPCURRCHEM,volume 259))

Abstract

All the strategies for the prebiotic syntheses of RNA and DNA assume the adequate availability of the presumptive precursors such as purine and pyrimidine nucleic bases, nucleosides and nucleotides. Polymerization of activated nucleotides probably furnished the first informational oligonucleotides. The formation of these precursors from mixtures of simple gases was shown to occur in a variety of conditions including UV-irradiation, electric discharge, heating, volcanic activity and marine vents. Even though a well-defined physical chemical scenario on the primitive Earth is not available, prebiotic syntheses were most probably performed using the simplest chemicals and the most common conditions present at that time. During these synthetic processes minerals played the relevant role of catalysts furnishing local microenvironments for the selective concentration of reagents and for the preservation of newly formed products. Here we focus on the optimal experimental conditions needed to carry out these syntheses and on the characterization of the major products thus obtained. Special attention will be addressed to catalyzed processes. Taken together, these procedures and data suggest novel scenarios for the molecular evolution of life on the primitive Earth and may provide a chemical clue to the evaluation of the plausible emergence of extraterrestrial forms of life.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Abbreviations

AMN:

Aminomaleonitrile

DAMN:

Diaminomaleonitrile

AICN:

4-Aminoimidazole-5-carbonitrile

AICA:

4-Aminoimidazole-5-carboxamide

5′-IMP:

Inosine-5′-monophosphate

Al-PILC:

Aluminum pillared clays

2′-AMP:

Adenosine-2′-monophosphate

3′-AMP:

Adenosine-3′-monophosphate

2′,3′-cAMP:

Adenosine 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate

5′-ATP:

5′-Adenosinetriphosphate

DISN:

Diiminosuccinonitrile

5′-GMP:

Guanosine-5′-monophosphate

ImpC:

5′-Phosphorimidazolide cytidine

D-2-MeImpG:

D-guanosine 5′-phosphoro-2-methylimidazole

L-2-MeImpG:

L-guanosine 5′-phosphoro-2-methylimidazole

APH:

Alkaline phosphatase

Rnase T2:

Ribonuclease T2

TNA:

L-α-threofuranosyl-(3′-2′)-oligonucleotides

(homo-DNA):

2′,3′-Dideoxy-glucopyranosyl-(6′-4′)-β-oligonucleotides

HNAs:

Hexitol nucleic acids

ANAs:

Altritol nucleic acids

PNA:

Peptide nucleic acid

References

  1. Orgel LE (1994) Scientific American 10:53

    Google Scholar 

  2. Eschenmoser A, Lowenthal E (1992) Chem Soc Rev 1

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ernst WG (1983) Earth's earliest biosphere. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, pp 41–52

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chyba CF, Thomas PJ, Brookshaw L, Sagan C (1990) Science 249:366

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kasting JF (1993) Science 259:920

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Miller S (1987) In: Proceedings of Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology, vol. LII 17

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wächtershäuser G (1988) Microbiol Rev 52:452

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Huber C, Wächtershäuser G (1997) Science 276:245

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Crabtree RH (1997) Science 276:222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cronin JR (1989) Adv Space Res 9:54

    Google Scholar 

  11. Anders E(1989) Nature 342:255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Maurette M, Jèhanno C, Robin E, Hammer C (1987) Nature 328:699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Drobner E, Huber H, Wächtershäuser G, Rose D, Stetter KO (1990) Nature 346:742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hafenbradl D, Keller M, Wächtershäuser G, Stetter KO (1995) Tetrahedron Lett 36:5179

    Google Scholar 

  15. Keller M, Blöchl E, Wächtershäuser G, Stetter KO (1994) Nature 368:836

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Oparin AI (1938) In: The origin of life. MacMillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  17. Saladino R, Crestini C, Costanzo G, Di Mauro E (2004) Curr Org Chem 8:1425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Orgel LE (2004) Critical Rev Biochem Molecular Biology 123:39

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sutherland JD, Whitfield JN (1997) Tetrahedron 53:11493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Maurel MC, Dècout JL (1999) Tetrahedron 55:3141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Abelson PH (1966) Proc Natl Acad Sci 55:1365

    Google Scholar 

  22. McCord TB, Carlson RW, Smythe WD, Hansen GB, Clark RN, Hibbitts CA, Fanale FP, Granahan JC, Segua M, Matson DL, Johnson TV, Martin PD (1997) Science 278:271

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Bar-Nun A, Tauber ME (1972) Space Life Sci 3:254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hubbard JS, Voecks GE, Hobby GL, Ferris JP, Williams EA, Nicodem DE (1975) J Mol Evol 5:223

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ferris JP, Chen CT (1975) Nature 258:587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sanchez R, Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1966) Science 154:784

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Krebaum LJ (1966) J Org Chem 31:4103

    Google Scholar 

  28. Hirose Y, Ohmuro K, Saigoh M, Nakayama T, Yamagata Y (1991) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 20:471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Miyakawa S, Cleaves HJ, Miller SL (2002) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 32:195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ferris JP, Zamek OS, Altbuch AM, Freiman HJ (1974) J Mol Evol 3:301

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ferris JP, Hagan WJ (1984) Tetrahedron 40:1093

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Rank MD, Townes CH, Welch WJ (1971) Science 1083

    Google Scholar 

  33. Mumma MJ, Weissman PR, Stern SA (1993) In: Levy EH, Lunine JI (eds) Protostars and Planets III. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ, pp 1177–1252

    Google Scholar 

  34. Magge-Sauer K, Mumma MJ, DiSanti MA, Russo ND, Rettig TW (1999) Icarus 90:203

    Google Scholar 

  35. Irvine WM (1999) Space Sci Rev 90:203

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Hidayat T, Marten A, Bèzard B, Ganter D, Owen T, Matthews HE, Paubert G (1997) Icarus 126:170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Strecker A (1850) Liebigs Ann Chem 75:27

    Google Scholar 

  38. Miller SL (1953) Science 117:528

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Miller SL (1955) J Am Chem Soc 77:2351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Orò J (1960) Biochim Biophys Res Commun 2:407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Orò J, Kimball AP (1961) Arch Biochem Biophys 94:217

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Orò J, Kimball AP (1962) Arch Biochem Biophys 96:293

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1965) J Am Chem Soc 87:4976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Sanchez RA, Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1967) J Mol Evol 30:223

    Google Scholar 

  45. Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1966) J Am Chem Soc 88:1074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Ferris JP, Kuder JE, Catalano AW (1969) Science 166:765

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1966) J Am Chem Soc 88:1074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Eschenmoser A, Loewenthal E (1992) Chem Soc Rev 1

    Google Scholar 

  49. Sanchez R, Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1966) Science 153:72

    Google Scholar 

  50. Orgel L, Lohrmann R (1974) Acc Chem Res 7:368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Voet AB, Schwartz AW (1981) In: Wolman Y (ed) Origin of life. Reidel, Dordrecht, p 217

    Google Scholar 

  52. Miyakawa S, Cleaves HJ, Miller SL (2002) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 32:195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Proust JL (1807) J Chem Physik 384:1806

    Google Scholar 

  54. Ferris JP, Donner DB, Lotz W (1972) J Am Chem Soc 94:6968

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Ferris JP, Donner DB, Lobo AP (1973) J Mol Biol 74:511

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Ferris JP, Edelson EH, Auyeung JM, Joshi PC (1981) J Mol Evol 17:69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. McKay RA, Schaefer J, Steiskal EO, Ludicky R, Mattews CN (1984) Macromol 17:1124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Liebeman SA, Pesce-Rodriguez RA, Mattews CN (1994) Adv Space Res 15:71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Umemoto K, Takahashi M, Yokata K (1987) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 17:283

    Google Scholar 

  60. Völker TH (1960) Angew Chem 72:379

    Google Scholar 

  61. Ferris JP, Joshi PC, Edelson EH, Lawless JG (1978) J Mol Evol 11:293

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Lieberman I, Kornberg A, Simms ES (1955) J Biol Chem 215:403

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Grant NH, Alburn HE (1965) Science 150:1589

    Google Scholar 

  64. Orò J (1963) Nature 197:971

    Google Scholar 

  65. Bada JL, Lazcano A (2002) Science 1982

    Google Scholar 

  66. Coates J, Hartshorne NH (1931) J Chem Soc 657:193

    Google Scholar 

  67. Miller SL, Orgel LE (1974) In: The origin of life on the earth. Prentice-Hall, New York

    Google Scholar 

  68. Miyakawa S, Cleaves HJ, Miller SL (2002) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 32:195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Miyakawa S, Cleaves HJ, Miller SL (2002) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 32:209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Yamada H, Okamoto T (1972) Chem Pharm Bull 20:623

    Google Scholar 

  71. Yamada H, Okamoto T (1975) Yakugaku Zasshi 95:493

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. ECT Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (1978) Formic acid and derivatives. Wiley Interscience, Hoboken, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  73. Yamada H, Hirobe M, Higashiyama K, Takahashi H, Suzuki KT (1978) Tetrahedron Lett 42:4039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Yamada H, Hirobe M, Higashiyama K, Takahashi H, Suzuki H (1978) J Am Chem Soc 100

    Google Scholar 

  75. Zubay G (2001) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 31:87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Hill A, Orgel LE (2002) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 32:99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  77. Shapiro R, Klein RS (1966) Biochem 5:2358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Sanchez R, Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1968) J Mol Biol 33:693

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Sanchez R, Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1966) Science 154:784

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Hirose Y, Ohmuro K, Saigoh M, Nakayama T, Yamagata Y (1991) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 20:471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Sanchez R, Ferris JP, Orgel LE (1968) J Mol Biol 33:693

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Halmann M, Bloch S (1979) BioSyst 11:227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  83. Robertson MP, Miller SL (1995) Nature 375:772

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Ferris JP, Zamek OS, Altbuch AM, Freiman HJ (1974) J Mol Evol 3:301

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Robertson PM, Levy M, Miller SL (1996) J Mol Evol 43:543

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Schwartz AW, Chittenden GJF (1977) BioSyst 9:87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  87. Sowerby SJ, Cohn CA, Heckl WM, Holm NG (2001) PNAS 98:820

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Cohn CA, Hansson TK, Larsson HS, Sowerby SJ, Holm NG (2001) Astrobiol 1:477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  89. Sowerby SJ, Petersen GB, Holm NG (2002) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 32:35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Saladino R, Crestini C, Costanzo G, Negri R, Di Mauro E (2001) Bioorg Med Chem 9:1249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Saladino R, Crestini C, Ciciriello F, Costanzo G, Negri R, Di Mauro E (2001) In: Astrobiology: future perspectives. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 393–413

    Google Scholar 

  92. Kirkpatrick E (1944) US Patent to EI Dupont de Nemours Co. Inc 2:346

    Google Scholar 

  93. Varma RS (2000) Tetrahedron 58:1235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  94. Bernal JD (1951) In: The physical basis of life. Routledge Kegen Paul, London

    Google Scholar 

  95. Cairns-Smith C (1992) In: Tran Thanh Van J, Mounolou JC, Schneider J, McKay C (eds) Frontiers of life. Editions Frontieres, Gif-sur-Yvette, France, pp 119–132

    Google Scholar 

  96. Lorenz MG, Arderma AJ, Wackernagel WJ (1988) Genet Microbiol 134:107 Gallori E, Bazzicalupo M, Dal Canto L, Fani R, Nannipieri P, Vettori C, Stotzky G (1994) FEMS Microbiol Ecol 15:119 Pietramellara G, Franchi M, Gallori E, Nannipieri P (2001) Biol Fertil Soils 33:402 Franchi M, Bramanti E, Bonzi LM, Orioli PL, Vettori C, Gallori E (1999)Origin Life Evol Biosphere 29:297 Vettori C, Paffetti D, Pietramellara G, Stotzky G, Gallori E (1996) FEMS Microbiol Ecol 20:251

    Google Scholar 

  97. Saladino R, Crestini C, Ciambecchini U, Ciciriello F, Costanzo G, Di Mauro E (2004) ChemBiochem 8:1425

    Google Scholar 

  98. Negri R, Costanzo G, Saladino R, Di Mauro E (1996) Bio Techniques 21:910 Negri R, Ferraboli S, Barlati S, Di Mauro E (1994) Nucleic Acids Res 22:111

    Google Scholar 

  99. Saladino R, Minzione E, Crestini C, Negri R, Di Mauro E, G Costanzo (1996) J Am Chem Soc 118:5615 Saladino R, Crestini C, Minzione E, Costanzo G, Di Mauro E, Negri R (1997) Bioorg Med Chem 5:2041

    Google Scholar 

  100. Butlerow A (1861) Liebigs Ann Chem 120:295

    Google Scholar 

  101. Friesen DA, Haedely JV, Langford CH (1999) Environ Sci Technol 33:3193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  102. Saladino R, Ciambecchini U, Crestini C, Costanzo G, Negri R, Di Mauro E (2003) ChemBiochem 4:514

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Reis TLV (1965) Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol 4:189

    Google Scholar 

  104. Reid C, Orgel LE, Ponnampeuma C (1967) Nature 216:936

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Fuller WD, Sanchez RA, Orgel LE (1972) J Mol Biol 67:25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  106. Fuller WD, Sanchez RA, Orgel LE (1972) J Mol Evol 1:249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Kuzicheva EA, Tsupkina NV (1978) Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii I Fiziologii 14 3:213

    Google Scholar 

  108. Deker P, Schweer H, Pohlman R (1982) J Chromatogr 244:281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  109. Shapiro R (1988) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 18:71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  110. Pitsch S, Eschenmoser A, Gedulin B, Hui S, Arrhenius G (1995) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 25:297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  111. Zubay G (1998) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 28:13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  112. Ricardo A, Carrigan MA, Olcott AN, Benner SA (2004) Science 303:196

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Isbell HS, Frush HL, Wade CWR, Hunter CE (1969) Carbohydr Res 9:163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  114. Dworkin JP, Miller SL (2000) Carbohydr Res 329:359

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  115. Springsteen G, Joyce GF (2004) J Am Chem Soc 126:9578

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  116. Sanchez RA, Orgel LE (1970) J Mol Biol 47:531

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  117. Tapiero CM, Nagyvary J (1971) Nature 231:42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  118. Rabinowitz J, Sherwood C, Ponnamperuma C (1968) Nature 442

    Google Scholar 

  119. Lohrmann R, Orgel LE (1968) Science 161:64

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  120. Schoffstall AM (1976) Origin Life 7:399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  121. Schoffstall AM, Kokko B (1978) In: Noda H (ed) Origin of life. Center for Academic Publications, Japan, p 193

    Google Scholar 

  122. Ponnamperuma C, Mack R (1965) Science 148:124

    Google Scholar 

  123. Schoffstall AM, Barto RJ, Ramos DI (1979) Origin Life 12:143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  124. Becker B (1970) J Chem Eng Data 15:31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  125. Philipp M, Seliger H (1977) Naturwissen 64:273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  126. Knollmeller KO (1967) US Patent 3 33921; Chem Abstr 67, 74990c

    Google Scholar 

  127. Daub GG, Reid JD (1953) US Patent 2 609360; Chem Abstr 47, 920h

    Google Scholar 

  128. Lohrmann R, Orgel LE (1971) Science 171:490

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  129. Schwartz AW (1972) Biochem Biophys Acta 281:477

    Google Scholar 

  130. Verlander MS, Orgel LE (1974) J Mol Evol 3:115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  131. Renz M, Lohrman R, Orgel LE (1971) Biochim Biophys Acta 240:463

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  132. Usher D, McHale AH (1976) Science 192:53

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  133. Uesugi S, Ikehara MN (1977) Biochem 16:493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  134. Usher DA (1972) Nature New Biol 235:207

    Google Scholar 

  135. Usher DA, McHale AH (1976) Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 73:1149

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  136. Reiman R, Zubay G (1999) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 29:229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  137. Schwartz AW (1969) Chem Commun 1393

    Google Scholar 

  138. Tsuhoko M, Fujimoto M, Ohashi S, Narai H, Motooka I (1984) Bull Chem Soc Jpn 57:3274

    Google Scholar 

  139. Tsuhoko M, Fujimoto M, Ohashi S (1981) Chem Lett 849

    Google Scholar 

  140. Etaix E, Orgel LE (1978) J Carbohydrates-Nucleosides-Nucleotides 5(2):91

    Google Scholar 

  141. Yamagata Y, Inoue H, Inomata K (1995) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 25:47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  142. Cheng C, Fan CRW, Tong C, Miao Z, Chen J, Zhao Y (2002) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 32:219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  143. Ponnamperuma C, Sagan C, Mariner R (1963) Nature 199:222

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  144. Steinman G, Kenyon DH, Calvin M (1965) Nature 206:707

    Google Scholar 

  145. Schwartz A, Ponnamperuma C (1968) Nature 218:443

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  146. Lohrmann R, Orgel LE (1971) Science 171:490

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  147. Handschuh GJ, Lohrmann R, Orgel LE (1973) J Mol Evol 2:251

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  148. Lohrmann R (1977) J Mol Evol 10:137

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  149. Gao K, Orgel LE (2000) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 30:45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  150. Yamagata Y (1999) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 29:511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  151. Ferris JP, Ryan TJ (1973) J Org Chem 38:3302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  152. Ferris JP, Eldenson EH, Mount NM, Sullivan AE (1979) J Mol Evol 13:317

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  153. Ferris JP, Hagan WJ, Alwis KW, McCrea J (1982) J Mol Evol 18:304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  154. Ferris JP, Yanagawa M, Hagan WJ (1984) Origin Life 14:99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  155. Schramm G, Groetsch H, Pollmann W (1961) Angew Chem 73:610

    Google Scholar 

  156. Schramm G, Groetsch H, Pollmann W (1965) In: Fox S (ed) The origins of prebiological systems. Academic, New York, p 299

    Google Scholar 

  157. Kochetkov NK, Budowsky EI, Domkin VD, Kuromov-Borissov NN (1964) Biochim Biophys Acta 80:145

    Google Scholar 

  158. Jacob TM, Khorana HG (1964) J Am Chem Soc 86:1630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  159. Gottikh BP, Slutsky I (1964) Biochim Biophys Acta 87:163

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  160. Fox SW, Harada K (1961) Science 133:1923

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  161. Sulston J, Lohrmann R, Orgel LE, Schneider-Bernloehr H, Weimann BJ, Miles HT (1969) J Mol Biol 40:227

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  162. Schneider-Bernloehr H, Lohrmann R, Sulston J, Weimann BJ, Orgel LE (1968) J Mol Biol 37:151

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  163. Orgel LE (1969) In: Sixth Fed Eur Biochem Soc Meeting, Madrid, Spain, p 37

    Google Scholar 

  164. Inoue T, Orgel LE (1971) Science 171:490

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  165. Osterberg R, Orgel LE, Sanchez RA (1973) J Mol Evol 2:231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  166. Weimann BJ, Lohrmann R, Orgel LE, Schneider-Bernloehr H, Sulston JE (1968) Science 161:387

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  167. Lohrmann RH, Orgel LE (1978) Tetrahedron 34:853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  168. Szostak JW, Ellington AD (1993) In: The RNA world. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbour, NY, pp 511–533

    Google Scholar 

  169. Schwartz AW, Orgel LE (1985) Science 228:585

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  170. Van Vliet MJ, Visscher J, Schwartz AW (1995) J Mol Evol 41:261

    Google Scholar 

  171. Sawai H, Kuroda K, Hojo H (1989) Bull Chem Soc Jpn 62

    Google Scholar 

  172. Sievers D, Von Kiedrowski G (1994) Nature 369:221

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  173. Kanavarioti A (1994) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 24:479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  174. Ferris JP, Yanagawa H, Dudgeon PA, Hagan JWJ, Mallare TE (1984) Origin Life 15:29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  175. Ferris JP (1993) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 23:307315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  176. Ferris JP, Ertem G (1992) Science 257:1387

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  177. Ferris JP, Ertem G (1992) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 22:369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  178. Ferris JP, Ertem G (1993) Origin Life Evol Biosphere 23:229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  179. Ferris JP, Ertem G (1993) J Am Chem Soc 115:12270

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  180. Ertem G, Ferris JP (1996) Nature 379:238

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  181. Probahar KJ, Cole TD, Ferris JP (1994) J Am Chem Soc 116:10914

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  182. Probahar KJ, Ferris JP (1997) J Am Chem Soc 119:4330

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  183. Kawamura K, Ferris, JP (1994) J Am Chem Soc 116:7564–7572

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  184. Probahar KJ, Cole TD, Ferris JP (1994) J Am Chem Soc 116:10914–10920

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  185. Kawamura K, Ferris JP (1996) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 26:151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  186. Greares MP, Wilson WJ (1969) Soil Biol Biochem 1:317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  187. Sewhney BL, Singh SS (1997) Clay Minerals 45:333

    Google Scholar 

  188. Kawamura K, Ferris JP (1999) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 29:63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  189. Matsuno K (2000) In: Akaboshi M, Fujii N, Navarro-Gonzales R (eds) The role of radiation in the origin and evolution of life. Kyoto University Press, Kyoto, pp 9–24

    Google Scholar 

  190. Matsuno K (1997) Viva Origino 25:191–204

    Google Scholar 

  191. Ogasawara H, Yoshida A, Imai EI, Honda H, Hatori K, Matsuno K (2000) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 30:519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  192. Imai E, Honda H, Hatori K, Matsuno K (1999) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 29:249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  193. Kanavarioti A, Monnard PA, Deamer DW (2001) Astrobiol 1:271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  194. Monnard PA, Kanavarioti A, Deamer DW (2003) J Am Chem Soc 125:13734

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  195. Sleeper HL, Orgel LE (1979) J Mol Evol 12:357

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  196. Sawai H, Ohno M (1981) Chem Pharm Bull 29:2237

    Google Scholar 

  197. Eschenmoser A (1997) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 27:535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  198. Böhringer M, Roth HJ, Hunz J, Göbel M, Krishman R, Giger A, Schweizer B, Schreiber J, Leumann C, Eschenmoser A (1992) Helv Chim Acta 75:1416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  199. Hunziker J, Roth HJ, Böhringer M, Giger A, Diederichsen U, Göbel M, Krishnan M, Jaun B, Leumann C, Eschenmoser A (1993) Helv Chim Acta 76:259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  200. Otting G, Billeter M, Wuthrich K, Roth HJ, Leumann C, Eschenmoser A (1993) Helv Chim Acta 76:2701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  201. Groebke K, Hunziker J, Fraser W, Peng L, Diederichsen U, Zimmermann K, Holzner A, Leumann C, Eschenmoser A (1998) Helv Chim Acta 81:375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  202. Pitsch S, Wendeborn S, Jaun B, Eschenmoser A (1993) Helv Chim Acta 76:2161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  203. Schlonvogt I, Pitsch S, Lesueur C, Eschenmoser A, Jaun B, Wolf RM (1996) Helv Chim Acta 79:2316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  204. Reck F, Wippo H, Kudick R, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2001) Helv Chim Acta 84:1778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  205. Wagner T, Huynh HK, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2002) Helv Chim Acta 85:4111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  206. Beier M, Reck F, Wagner T, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (1999) Science 283:699–703

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  207. Wippo H, Reck F, Kudick R, Ramaseshan M, Ceulemans G, Bolli M, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2001) Bioorg Med Chem 9:2411

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  208. Schöning KU, Scholz P, Guntha S, Wu X, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2000) Science 290:1347

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  209. Schöning KU, Scholz P, Guntha S, Wu X, Delgado G, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2002) Helv Chim Acta 85:4111–4153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  210. Eschenmoser A (2004) Origins Life Evol Biosphere 34:277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  211. Wu X, Delgado G, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2002) Org Lett 4:1283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  212. Wu X, Guntha S, Ferencic M, Krishnamurthy R, Eschenmoser A (2002) Org Lett 4:1279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  213. Kojima N, Bruce TC (2000) Org Lett 2:81

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  214. Nielsen PE (1999) Acc Chem Res 32:624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  215. Han B, Wang Z, Krishnamurthy R, Juan B, Eschenmoser A (2000) Org Lett 4:3275

    Google Scholar 

  216. Kozlov IA, Politis PK, Pitsch S, Herdewijn P, Orgel LE (1999) J Am Chem Soc 121:1108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  217. Kozlov IA, Zielinski M, Allart B, Kerremans L, Van Aerschot A, Busson R, Herdewijn P, Orgel LE (2000) Chem Eur J 6:151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  218. Egholm M, Buchardt O, Nielsen PE, Berg RH (1992) J Am Chem Soc 114:1895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  219. Micklefield J (2001) Curr Med Chem 8:1157

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  220. Nielsen PE, Egholm M, Berg RH, Buchardt O (1991) Science 254:1497

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  221. Orgel LE (1998) Trends Biochem Sci 23(12):491

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  222. Nelson KE, Levy M, Miller SL (2000) PNAS 97:3868

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  223. Schmidt JG, Nielsen PE, Orgel LE (1997) Nucleic Acids Res 25(23):4797

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  224. Böhler C, Nielsen PE, Orgel LE (1995) Nature 376(6541):578

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  225. Demidov VV, Yavnilovich MV, Belotserkovskii BP, Frank-Kamenetskii MD, Nielsen PE (1995) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92(7):2637

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  226. Koppelhus U, Nielsen PE (2003) Adv Drug Deliv Rev 55(2):267

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  227. Demidov VV, Broude NE, Lavrentieva-Smolina IV, Kuhn H, Frank-Kamenetskii MD (2001) Chembiochem 2(2):133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  228. Protozanova E, Demidov VV, Soldatenkov V, Chasovskikh S, Frank-Kamenetskii MD (2002) EMBO Rep 3(10):956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  229. Koppitz M, Nielsen PE (1998) J Am Chem Soc 120:4563

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  230. Izvolsky KI, Demidov VV, Nielsen PE, Frank-Kamenetskii MD (2000) Biochem 39(35):10908

    Article  Google Scholar 

  231. Schneider KC, Benner SA (1990) J Am Chem Soc 112:453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  232. Watson JD, Crick FH (1953) Nature 171:7370

    Google Scholar 

  233. Shapiro R, Kang S (1969) Biochem 8:1806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  234. Garrett ER, Mehta PJ (1972) J Am Chem Soc 94(24):8532

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  235. Lindahl T, Karlstrom O (1973) Biochem 12(25):5151

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INFM, Dipartimento A.B.A.C., Università della Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    Raffaele Saladino

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università “Tor Vergata”, 00133, Rom, Italy

    Claudia Crestini

  3. Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari, CNR, 00185, Rom, Italy

    Giovanna Costanzo

  4. Fondazione “Istituto Pasteur”, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Università “La Sapienza”, 00185, Rom, Italy

    Ernesto DiMauro

Authors
  1. Raffaele Saladino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Claudia Crestini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giovanna Costanzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ernesto DiMauro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raffaele Saladino .

Editor information

Peter Walde

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Saladino, R., Crestini, C., Costanzo, G., DiMauro, E. On the Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleobases, Nucleotides, Oligonucleotides, Pre-RNA and Pre-DNA Molecules . In: Walde, P. (eds) Prebiotic Chemistry. Topics in Current Chemistry, vol 259. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/b136152

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation