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Attempted prebiotic synthesis of pseudouridinePseudouridine is a modified base found in all tRNA and rRNA. Hence, it is reasonable to think that pseudouridine was important in the early evolution, if not the origin, of life. Since uracil reacts rapidly with formaldehyde and other aldehydes at the C-5 position, it is plausible that pseudouridine could be synthesized in a similar way by the reaction of the C-5 of uracil with the C-1 of ribose. The determining factor is whether the ribose could react with the uracil faster than ribose decomposes. However, both rates are determined by the amount of free aldehyde in the ribose. Various plausible prebiotic reactions were investigated and none showed pseudouridine above the detection limit (<0.01%). Only unreacted uracil and ribose decomposition products could be observed. Thus the rate of addition of ribose to uracil is much slower than the decomposition of ribose under any reasonable prebiotic conditions. Unless efficient non-biological catalysts for any of these reactions exist, pseudouridine would not have been synthesized to any significant extent without the use of biologically produced enzymes.
Document ID
20040112196
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Dworkin, J. P.
(University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0506, United States)
Miller, S. L.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere : the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
Volume: 27
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0169-6149
Subject Category
Exobiology
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Exobiology
Non-NASA Center

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