Polypeptide Chain Growth Mechanisms and Secondary Structure Formation in Glycine Gas-Phase Deposition on Silica Surfaces.

ABSTRACT: Peptide formation by amino acids condensation represents a crucial reaction in the quest of the origins of life as well as in synthetic chemistry. However, it is still poorly understood in terms of efficiency and reaction mechanism. In the present work, peptide formation has been investigated through thermal condensation of gas-phase glycine in fluctuating silica environments as a model of prebiotic environments. In-situ IR spectroscopy measurements under a controlled atmosphere reveal that a humidity fluctuating system subjected to both temperature and water activity variations results in the formation of more abundant peptides compared to a dehydrated system subjected only to temperature fluctuations cycles. A model is proposed in which hydration steps result in the hydrolysis and redist

SUBMITTER: El Samrout O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9884078 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature