Mineral catalysis and prebiotic synthesis: Montmorillonite-catalyzed formation of RNA
Mineral catalysis and prebiotic synthesis: Montmorillonite-catalyzed formation of RNA
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DOI：
10.2113/gselements.1.3.145
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发表时间：
2005-06-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.5
通讯作者：
Ferris, JP
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Ferris, JP
火山灰风化后形成的粘土矿物蒙脱石可能在生命进化中发挥了核心作用。由于其结构，蒙脱石倾向于吸附有机化合物，这有助于其催化各种对生命起源至关重要的有机反应的能力。我们的实验表明，RNA分子有效地结合粘土和蒙脱石可以催化形成更长的分子（低聚物），从而支持RNA世界假说。该理论认为，基于RNA的生命先于基于DNA和蛋白质的现代生命。
Montmorillonite, a clay mineral formed by the weathering of volcanic ash, may have played a central role in the evolution of life. Because of its structure, montmorillonite tends to adsorb organic compounds and this contributes to its ability to catalyze a variety of organic reactions critical to scenarios of life's origins. We have shown experimentally that RNA molecules bind efficiently to clays and that montmorillonite can catalyze the formation of longer molecules (oligomers), thus lending support to the RNA world hypothesis. This theory proposes that life based on RNA preceded current life, which Is based on DNA and protein.