Experiments on the abiotic amplification of optical activity

Our earlier experiments are briefly reviewed, involving the abiotic generation of optical activity by exposure of DL-amino acids to various "chiral" physical forces. The enantiomeric enrichments so obtained were low, however, and additional experiments were undertaken with the objective of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Origins of Life 1981-03, Vol.11 (1-2), p.119-134
Main Authors: Bonner, W A, Blair, N E, Dirbas, F M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acids - radiation effects
Hydrolysis
Leucine - analogs & derivatives
Optical Rotation
Peptides
Polymers
Space life sciences
Stereoisomerism
Valine - analogs & derivatives
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Summary:Our earlier experiments are briefly reviewed, involving the abiotic generation of optical activity by exposure of DL-amino acids to various "chiral" physical forces. The enantiomeric enrichments so obtained were low, however, and additional experiments were undertaken with the objective of abiotically enhancing such small enantiomeric excesses. D not equal to L Mixtures of leucine N-carboxy anhydride gave enantiomerically enriched polymers on partial polymerization, while valine NCA mixtures behaved oppositely. Leucine polymers were also found to hydrolyze stereoselectively, providing for additional enantiomeric enhancement. A repetitive sequence of partial polymerization-hydrolysis steps is suggested as a possible mechanism for the abiotic genesis of optically enriched polypeptides on the primitive Earth.
ISSN:0302-1688
1573-0875
DOI:10.1007/BF00928003