Origin of Enzymes: Function and Structure of Hyperbranched Polymers

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K01943
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomolecular chemistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Mamajanov Irena 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 特任教授 (80776261)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: origin of life / chemical evolution / hyperbranched polymers / protoenzymes

Outline of Final Research Achievements

1) Branched polyesters undergo chemical evolution under wet-dry cycles to form soluble hyperbranched structures. Cross-linked structures form without wet-dry cycling. 2) Hyperbranched polyesters are capable of supporting nanoparticles and form biomimetic enzyme-like catalysts. The systems has been tested for ZnS nanocrystals relevant to Zn World origin of life scenario. 3) Utilizing ester amide exchange reaction, we have shown that hyperbranched polyesters provide a template for non-random incorporation of amino acids into a depsipeptides suggesting the possible pathway to functional peptides in prebiotic chemistry. 4) Polyesters serve as membraneless compartments capable of encapsulating functional RNA.6) A new insight into origins of life: it would have been more efficient for species to form prior to the origin of life

Free Research Field

origin of life

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

For 70 years the origin of life field has been focused on the synthesis of biological molecules. The synthesis of biomolecules does not lead to the formation of life. It is important to look into dynamic processes of functional systems. This project successfully explored one such system.