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The Sugar Model: Catalytic Flow Reactor Dynamics of Pyruvaldehyde Synthesis from Triose Catalyzed by Poly-L-Lysine Contained in a DialyzerThe formation of pyruvaldehyde from triose sugars was catalyzed by poly-L-lysine contained in a small dialyzer (100 MWCO) suspended in a much larger triose substrate reservoir. The polylysine confined in the dialyzer functioned as a catalytic flow reactor that constantly brought in triose from the substrate reservoir by diffusion to offset the drop in triose concentration within the reactor caused by its conversion to pyruvaldehyde. A 400 mM solution of poly-L-lysine contained in a 0.35 ml dialyzer placed in a 120 ml solution of triose substrate (pH 5.5, 40 C) generated pyruvaldehyde 11 -times faster than an a control reaction without the catalytic dialyzer. However, since the catalytic dialyzer's volume was 343-times smaller than the control reaction, the synthetic intensity (rate/volume) of pyruvaldehyde synthesis within the catalytic dialyzer was 3400-times greater than that of the control reaction and substrate solution. A similar result was obtained using a dialyzer with a 500 MWCO value. Acting as a catalytic flow reactor the polylysine catalytic dialyzer synthesized about 3.5 molecules of pyruvaldehyde per lysine residue in 7 days -- an amount of triose equal to twice the weight of the catalyst. At 7 days the catalytic activity of polylysine was 16% of its initial value, a result indicating catalyst-poisoning caused by reaction of pyruvaldehyde with the e-amino groups of polylysine. The dialyzer method of catalyst containment was selected it provides a simple, flexible, and easily manipulated experimental system for studying the dynamics and evolutionary development of confined autocatalytic processes related to the origin of life under anaerobic conditions.
Document ID
20010080456
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Weber, Arthur L.
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Inst. Moffett Field, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 9, 2000
Subject Category
Chemistry And Materials (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-1075
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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