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Synthesis of phosphatidylcholine under possible primitive earth conditionsUsing a primitive earth evaporating pond model, the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine was accomplished when a reaction mixture of choline chloride and disodium phosphatidate, in the presence of cyanamide and traces of acid, was evaporated and heated at temperatures ranging from 25 to 100 C for 7 hours. Optimum yields of about 15% were obtained at 80 C. Phosphatidylcholine was identified by chromatographic, chemical and enzymatic degradation methods. On enzymatic hydrolysis with phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C, lysophosphatidylcholine and phosphorylcholine were formed, respectively. Alkaline hydrolysis gave glycerophosphorylcholine. The synthesis of phosphatidylcholine as the major compound was accompanied by the formation of lysophosphatidylcholine in smaller amounts. Cyanamide was found to be essential for the formation of phosphatidylcholine, and only traces of HCl, of the order of that required to convert the disodium phosphatidate to free phosphatidic acid were found necessary for the synthesis. This work suggests that phosphatidylcholine, which is an essential component of most biological membranes, could have been synthesized on the primitive earth.
Document ID
19820049750
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Rao, M.
(Houston Univ. TX, United States)
Eichberg, J.
(Houston Univ. TX, United States)
Oro, J.
(Houston, University Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Molecular Evolution
Volume: 18
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Accession Number
82A33285
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NIH-NS-12493-04
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-44-004-002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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