The RNA World hypothesis proposes that single RNA nucleotides were synthesized from subunits that were present on prebiotic earth. Experimental research has shown these nucleotides to be capable of self-assembly, a process which is expedited by the presence of activating groups and a catalyst such as montmorillonite. Experimental evidence suggests that the surfaces of the interlayers of the clay are the site of polymerization.  In this work, theoretical methods were used to represent nucleotide bases in the interlayer space of montmorillonite to model the set of adsorbate-adsorbate and adsorbate-surface interactions proposed in the experimental literature. The overall symmetry of both the interlayer surfaces and the chains of RNA were considered to explore possible cooperative effects. The repetition pattern of moieties on the RNA chains was found to be compatible with the symmetrical distribution of interlayer cations, the latter potentially providing scaffolding for the assembly of the nucleotides into chains

Oligomerization of RNA in montmorillonite interlayers: A theoretical model

239th National Meeting (2010)

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