Synthesis of amino acyl-adenylates under prebiotic conditions (original) (raw)

Summary

In a system containing zeolites, ATP and amino acids, amino acid-ADP anhydrides are able to form in an aqueous medium at neutral pH and room temperature. When montmorillonite, a clay possessing swelling properties, is added, polypeptides are formed. It is suggested that this may be the mechanism whereby prebiotic synthesis of peptides took place.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Polymer Department, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
   Mella Paecht-Horowitz & A. Katchalsky

Authors

1. Mella Paecht-Horowitz
2. A. Katchalsky

Additional information

Killed on May 30, 1972, at the Lydda Airport massacre.

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Paecht-Horowitz, M., Katchalsky, A. Synthesis of amino acyl-adenylates under prebiotic conditions.J Mol Evol 2, 91–98 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653989

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• Received: 21 September 1972
• Issue date: June 1973
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653989

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