Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA). Implications for the origin of the genetic material and the homochirality of life
- Center for Biomolecular Recognition, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Laboratory B, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3c, DK-2200 N, Copenhagen (Denmark)
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.}
- OSTI ID:
- 451102
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9502169-; ISSN 0094-243X; TRN: 9703M0107
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 379, 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
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