Phosphates, DNA, and the Search for Nonterrean Life: A Second Generation Model for Genetic Molecules

Benner, Steven A.; Hutter, Daniel

doi:10.1006/bioo.2001.1232

Cited by 117 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…With few exceptions (van Mooy et al 2009), diacyl membrane lipids contain phosphate head groups, even though amphiphilic molecules that form bilayer membranes do not require the presence of phosphate (Israelachvili 1991;Evans and Wennerstrom 1999). Indeed, the importance of phosphate is a recurring theme in biology, with examples in lipids, nucleic acids (Benner and Hutter 2002), metabolism (Westheimer 1987;Deamer 1997), and cellular signaling (Tarrant and Cole 2009). …”

Section: Background Membrane Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Membrane Transport in Primitive Cells

Mansy

2010

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

105

102

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Although model protocellular membranes consisting of monoacyl lipids are similar to membranes composed of contemporary diacyl lipids, they differ in at least one important aspect. Model protocellular membranes allow for the passage of polar solutes and thus can potentially support cell-to functions without the aid of transport machinery. The ability to transport polar molecules likely stems from increased lipid dynamics. Selectively permeable vesicle membranes composed of monoacyl lipids allow for many lifelike processes to emerge from a remarkably small set of molecules.

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Section: Background Membrane Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Membrane Transport in Primitive Cells

Mansy

2010

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

105

102

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“…Even though macromolecular nucleic information may be organized in a vast number of alternative structures [7][8][9][10] extant nucleic acids have no natural substitutes. This very fact points to the relevance of the problems related to the origin and to the stability of their constituents.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Borate Minerals and RNA Stability

et al. 2010

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Abstract:The abiotic origin of genetic polymers faces two major problems: a prebiotically plausible polymerization mechanism and the maintenance of their polymerized state outside a cellular environment. The stabilizing action of borate on ribose having been reported, we have explored the possibility that borate minerals stabilize RNA. We observe that borate itself does not stabilize RNA. The analysis of a large panel of minerals tested in various physical-chemical conditions shows that in general no protection on RNA backbone is exerted, with the interesting exception of ludwigite (Mg 2 Fe 3 +BO 5 ). Stability is a fundamental property of nucleic polymers and borate is an abundant component of the planet, hence the prebiotic interest of this analysis.

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“…Benner has hypothesised that a uniform charge pattern in the backbone is not only crucial to prevent longer nucleic acid strands from folding, but that the repeating anionic motifs are also important for the molecular recognition of two native nucleic acid strands with complementary base sequences. 17,18 It is therefore of major importance to study whether oligonucleotides with zwitterionic backbones can still form stable duplex structures and retain base pairing fidelity.…”

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confidence: 99%