As an RNA world hypothesis, ribonucleotides could arise through a process in which ribose, nucleobases and phosphate became conjoined on early earth. Although, the prebiotically plausible synthesis of ribonucleotides is required to support the RNA world theory, the reaction has rarely been possible up to now in conventional bulk solution without the use of enzymes During several years, it has been shown that the rates of some chemical and biochemical reactions in microdroplets are orders of magnitude higher than the rates of reactions in bulk solution. This has suggested that the prebiotic synthesis of ribonucleotides might be more plausible in a microdroplet environment. We present data indicating that the fabrication of nucleotide using a microdroplet environment can occur.

Possible prebiotic fabrication of ribonucleotides using microdroplets

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.