RNA Oligomerisation without Added Catalyst from 2 ',3 '-Cyclic Nucleotides by Drying at Air-Water Interfaces

Dass, Avinash Vicholous; Wunnava, Sreekar; Langlais, Juliette; Esch, Beatriz von der; Krusche, Maik; Ufer, Lennard; Chrisam, Nico; Dubini, Romeo C. A.; Gartner, Florian; Angerpointner, Severin; Dirscherl, Christina F.; Rovo, Petra; Mast, Christof B.; Sponer, Judit E.; Ochsenfeld, Christian; Frey, Erwin and Braun, Dieter (2022): RNA Oligomerisation without Added Catalyst from 2 ',3 '-Cyclic Nucleotides by Drying at Air-Water Interfaces. In: Chemsystemschem

Abstract

For the emergence of life, the abiotic synthesis of RNA from its monomers is a central step. We found that in alkaline, drying conditions in bulk and at heated air-water interfaces, 2 ',3 '-cyclic nucleotides oligomerised without additional catalyst, forming up to 10-mers within a day. The oligomerisation proceeded at a pH range of 7-12, at temperatures between 40-80 degrees C and was marginally enhanced by K+ ions. Among the canonical ribonucleotides, cGMP oligomerised most efficiently. Quantification was performed using HPLC coupled to ESI-TOF by fitting the isotope distribution to the mass spectra. Our study suggests a oligomerisation mechanism where cGMP aids the incorporation of the relatively unreactive nucleotides C, A and U. The 2 ',3 '-cyclic ribonucleotides are byproducts of prebiotic phosphorylation, nucleotide syntheses and RNA hydrolysis, indicating direct recycling pathways. The simple reaction condition offers a plausible entry point for RNA to the evolution of life on early Earth.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Physics
• Subjects: 500 Science > 530 Physics
• Language: English
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 491502892
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 364653263
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 390783311