skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA). Implications for the origin of the genetic material and the homochirality of life

Abstract

PNA is a pseudopeptide DNA mimic in which the natural nucleobases have been retained, but the backbone consists of {ital N}-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units to which the nucleobases are attached via methylene carbonyl linkers. The finding that PNA forms Warson-Crick-like helices with complementary DNA, RNA or PNA combined with the fact PNA is held together by amide bonds has made PNA of interest as a model for a primordial genetic material. Furthermore, the PNA backbone is achiral, while preferred chirality can be induced in PNA-PNA double helices by attached chiral ligands, thereby providing a new way of {open_quote}{open_quote}chiral amplification.{close_quote}{close_quote} Finally, it has been demonstrated that PNA-template directed synthesis of RNA and PNA is feasible. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Center for Biomolecular Recognition, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Laboratory B, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3c, DK-2200 N, Copenhagen (Denmark)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
451102
Report Number(s):
CONF-9502169-
Journal ID: APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 9703M0107
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
AIP Conference Proceedings
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 379; Journal Issue: 1; Conference: Physical origin of homochirality in life, Santa Monica, CA (United States), 15-17 Feb 1995; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, BASIC STUDIES; NUCLEIC ACIDS; CHIRALITY; PEPTIDES; DNA; RNA; ENANTIOMORPHS; GENETICS; BIOCHEMISTRY; MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

Citation Formats

Nielsen, P E. Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA). Implications for the origin of the genetic material and the homochirality of life. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.1063/1.51248.
Nielsen, P E. Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA). Implications for the origin of the genetic material and the homochirality of life. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.51248
Nielsen, P E. 1996. "Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA). Implications for the origin of the genetic material and the homochirality of life". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.51248.
@article{osti_451102,
title = {Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA). Implications for the origin of the genetic material and the homochirality of life},
author = {Nielsen, P E},
abstractNote = {PNA is a pseudopeptide DNA mimic in which the natural nucleobases have been retained, but the backbone consists of {ital N}-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units to which the nucleobases are attached via methylene carbonyl linkers. The finding that PNA forms Warson-Crick-like helices with complementary DNA, RNA or PNA combined with the fact PNA is held together by amide bonds has made PNA of interest as a model for a primordial genetic material. Furthermore, the PNA backbone is achiral, while preferred chirality can be induced in PNA-PNA double helices by attached chiral ligands, thereby providing a new way of {open_quote}{open_quote}chiral amplification.{close_quote}{close_quote} Finally, it has been demonstrated that PNA-template directed synthesis of RNA and PNA is feasible. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}},
doi = {10.1063/1.51248},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/451102}, journal = {AIP Conference Proceedings},
number = 1,
volume = 379,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}