Abiotic formation of oligonucleotides on basalt surfaces

Abstract

Abstract, The complication and further evolution of abiotic syntheses products occurred under environmental influences at the prebiological stage. From this point of view, the influence of some types of irradiation on the organic molecules adsorbed on the surfaces of volcanic rocks, appeared to be of great importance. In this connection, the effect of gamma rays on the AMP molecules adsorbed on mineral surfaces such as cinders and ashes has been studied. It has been shown that they can polymerize with the formation of oligonucleotides. The treatment of oligomers obtained by venom phosphodiesterase has shown that a polymeric product has mainly 3'-5' and 2'-5' bonds between nucleotides. The results obtained have been discussed from the evolutionary aspect.

Formation of RNA oligonucleotides over the mineral surface preliminary irradiated with UV light

“…The physicochemical processes that arise in this case are probably of a general character [7,9], because the analogous results were obtained also upon the irradiation of SiO 2 or volcanic ashes instead of the clay. It should be noted also that the oligonucleotides were formed not due to any specific properties of AMP, since the analogous results were obtained with guanosine monophosphate ([ 14 C]GMP) as well.…”

“…The mixture was kept in a thermostat at 37°C for 24 h. Mononucleotides were detected by a stepwise ion exchange chromatographic analysis of the phosphodiesterase-treated samples (fractions from 1 to 18 in the case of 0.05 M NH 4 Cl, and fractions from 19 to 40 in the case of 1 M NH 4 Cl on AG1 9 10 (0.7 9 2.5 cm) [9]). …”