A common and potentially prebiotic activating agent for phosphorylation of nucleosides and oligomerization of nucleotides and amino acids

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K14029
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 17050:Biogeosciences-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Yi Ruiqin 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 研究員 (00860090)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: The Origins of Life / Amino acids / RNA / Peptides / Polymerzation / Activating Chemistry

Outline of Final Research Achievements

cyanogen chloride was proposed to activate the synthesis of RNA and peptides. In this research, the activation of nucleotides to their 5′-phosphorimidazoles for RNA polymerization and activation of amino acids to peptides has been demonstrated. The cyanogen chloride activated polymerization of amino acids in the solid-phase peptide synthesis was also demonstrated, which could be used for the peptide synthesis in the industry. The activation of nucleotides to their 5′-phosphorimidazoles for RNA polymerization and amino acids polymerization has been found to occur in a one-pot synthesis using cyanogen chloride as a common activating agent. These results suggest that cyanogen chloride is a very useful activating reagent in the prebiotic chemistry.

Free Research Field

Prebiotic Chemistry

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This study provides an understanding how RNA and peptides could evolve chemically starting from simple molecules to complex polymers under a one-single environment. The performed peptides synthesis affords an idea of the extension of the outcome from prebiotic chemistry to appliable chemistry.