Efficient and rapid template-directed nucleic acid copying using 2'-amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleoside-5'-phosphorimidazolide monomers.

ABSTRACT: The development of a sequence-general nucleic acid copying system is an essential step in the assembly of a synthetic protocell, an autonomously replicating spatially localized chemical system capable of spontaneous Darwinian evolution. Previously described nonenzymatic template-copying experiments have validated the concept of nonenzymatic replication, but have not yet achieved robust, sequence-general polynucleotide replication. The 5'-phosphorimidazolides of the 2'-amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleotides are attractive as potential monomers for such a system because they polymerize by forming 2'-->5' linkages, which are favored in nonenzymatic polymerization reactions using similarly activated ribonucleotides on RNA templates. Furthermore, the 5'-activated 2'-amino nucleotides do not cyclize

SUBMITTER: Schrum JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2759813 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature