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Hydrogen cyanide polymers connect cosmochemistry and biochemistry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2008

Clifford N. Matthews  and
Robert D. Minard
Clifford N. Matthews
Affiliation:
University of Illinois, Chicago, ILUSA email: [email protected]
Robert D. Minard
Affiliation:
Penn State Astrobiology Research Center and Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802USA
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Abstract

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To understand the origin of protein/nucleic acid based life as we know it on Earth, we must “follow” the nitrogen. Because of its unique hydrogen bonding characteristics, nitrogen is the key element in catalytic and/or informational proteins and nucleic acids essential to cell function and reproduction. We present evidence that HCN is the original source of prebiotic protein and nucleobase nitrogen. We also present chemically rational models supporting the radical hypothesis that the polymerization of HCN yields ab initio mundi prebiotic protein and polynucleobase macromolecules of sufficient size and complexity to allow the spontaneous generation of pre-RNA World biopolymers capable of catalysis and information transfer.

Keywords

Astrochemistryastrobiologycomets: generalISM: moleculesinfrared: ISMmeteorsmeteoroidsmolecular processesplanets and satellites: individual (Earth, Titan)
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 4 , Symposium S251: Organic Matter in Space , February 2008 , pp. 453 - 458
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2008

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