Oligonucleotide Synthesis on Clay Minerals

这个来自合成有机项目的奖项将支持伦斯勒理工学院化学系的詹姆斯·p·费里斯博士的研究。费里斯博士将继续他对生命起源的研究，重点关注益生元RNA的性质，以及它是如何在早期地球的条件下合成的。费里斯博士将研究那些在粘土矿物催化中重要的因素，目标是形成更高分子量的低聚物。含有不同数量的Fe(OH)3或氧化铁多晶态的蒙脱土将被筛选为催化性能，含有铝酸盐、氧化铁和n-烷基三甲基铵柱的粘土也将被筛选为催化性能。此外，还将制备一系列具有不同交换阳离子的蒙脱石，并对其进行物理表征和催化活性探测。将继续研究各种单体的结构对低聚物形成的影响。

This award from the Synthetic Organic Program will support the research of Dr. James P. Ferris of the Department of Chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Ferris will continue his studies on the origin of life by focusing on the nature of prebiotic RNA and how it was synthesized under conditions present on the early Earth. Dr. Ferris will study those factors which are important in clay mineral catalysis with the goal of forming higher molecular weight oligomers. Montmorillonite containing varying amounts of Fe(OH)3 or iron oxide polymorphs will be screened for catalytic properties as will clays containing aluminate, ferric oxide and n-alkyltrimethylammonium pillars. Also, a series of montmorillonites with different exchangeble cations will be prepared, physically characterized and probed for catalytic activity. Studies will continue on the effect of structure of various monomers on oligomer formation.