Prebiotic synthesis: Organic chemistry and catalysis

CHED 1721

James P. Ferris, ferrij@rpi.edu1, Gregory J. Gluszak2, John W Delano, jdelano@atmos.albany.edu2, Prakash C. Joshi, joship2@rpi.edu1, Michael F. Aldersley, alderm@rpi.edu1, and Jonathan D. Price, pricej@rpi.edu3. (1) Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY Center for Studies on the Origins of Life, 105 Cogswell Laboratory, Troy, NY 12180, (2) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University at Albany, (3) Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180
Montmorillonite clay, a mineral that is found on the Earth and Mars, catalyzes the formation of 40-50 mers of RNA monomers at neutral pH and room temperature as shown by gel electrophoresis (Huang and Ferris, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 128, 8914-8919, 2006). Structure analysis of the oligomers revealed they exhibit sequence- and regio-selectivity. Investigation of the mechanism of the catalysis is the focus of the current studies. Correlation of the extent of oligomer formation with pH demonstrated that weakly acidic groups in the montmorillonite catalyze the reaction. The catalytic activity of ~15 different montmorillonites demonstrated that the Wyoming class are the most effective catalysts. Binding studies demonstrated that the reaction proceeds on the surface of the montmorillonite particles and that the course of the reaction is controlled by the relative orientation of the activated monomers on the surface of the montmorillonite.

 

Chemical Evolution, Chemical Change Across Space and Time
1:30 PM-4:30 PM, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227A, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007