AMP synthesis in aqueous solution of adenosine and phosphorus pentoxide (original) (raw)

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Phosphate plays a crucial role in the chemical evolution of life, yet its availability in prebiotic environments has been a longstanding challenge in understanding the origins of life. This study successfully demonstrated the phosphorylation of adenosine to various adenosine monophosphates (AMPs) using phosphorus pentoxide in aqueous solutions, revealing a potential pathway for phosphate recycling on the primitive Earth.

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Abstract

Possible formation of a P4O10 molecule in magma, the stability of the molecule in hydrous volcanic gas at high temperatures and a possible prebiotic phosphate cycle were discussed in relation to chemical evolution. To demonstrate the utility of phosphorus pentoxide as a phosphorylating agent, aqueous solutions of adenosine (0.02M) and phosphorus pentoxide (0.2M) were incubated at 37°C for 5 months. The pH of the solutions was adjusted every day or every few days to each fixed value (9.0, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5) with 10 N NaOH. The HPLC analysis showed the formation of 2′-AMP, 3′-AMP, 5′-AMP, cyclic (2′–3′)-AMP and cyclic (3′–5′)-AMP. The main components of the products were 2′- and 3′-AMP, though cyclic (2′–3′)-AMP was the main component in the early period of the incubation at pH 9.0. The yields (conversion rate of adenosine to AMPs) were increased almost linearly with the incubation time for 5 months in the case of pH 9.0. The final yields were about 3% (pH 9.0), 6% (pH 9.0, 1 M NaCl), 5% (pH 9.0, 0.01 M CaCl2, 0.01 M MgCl2), 7% (pH 9.0, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.01 M CaCl2, 0.01 M MgCl2), 9% (pH 9.0, 1 M NaCl, 0.01 M CaCl2, 0.01 M MgCl2), 32% (pH 10.5), 43% (pH 11.5), 35% (pH 12.5).

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa University, Marunouchi, 920, Kanazawa, Japan
   Y. Yamagata, H. Kojima & K. Ejiri
2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa University, Marunouchi, 920, Kanazawa, Japan
   K. Inomata

Authors

1. Y. Yamagata
2. H. Kojima
3. K. Ejiri
4. K. Inomata

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Yamagata, Y., Kojima, H., Ejiri, K. et al. AMP synthesis in aqueous solution of adenosine and phosphorus pentoxide.Origins Life Evol Biosphere 12, 333–337 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927064

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• Received: 06 August 1982
• Issue date: December 1982
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00927064

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