Formation of a β-pyrimidine nucleoside by a free pyrimidine base and ribose in a plausible prebiotic reaction

Heather D. Bean, Yinghong Sheng, James P. Collins, Frank A.L. Anet, Jerzy Leszczynski, Nicholas V. Hud

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

The problem of β-nucleoside formation under prebiotic conditions represents one of the most significant challenges to the RNA world hypothesis and to many of its proposed precursors. The possibility exists that alternative bases may have come before the contemporary bases (i.e., A, G, C, and U), including bases that more readily form nucleosides. In a search for pyrimidine bases that are able to form nucleosides in plausible prebiotic reactions, it was discovered that the drying and heating of 2-pyrimidinone with ribose produces a β-furanosyl ribonucleoside in approximately 12% yield. At least two other chemical isomers of zebularine are also produced in the condensation reaction. This work represents the first successful synthesis of a pyrimidine nucleoside from a free base and a nonactivated sugar in a plausible prebiotic reaction. A comparison of 2-pyrimidinone with the purine bases that have also been demonstrated to form nucleosides in plausible prebiotic reactions provides insights regarding what chemical features of the bases facilitate glycoside formation in drying-heating reactions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9556-9557
Number of pages2
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume129
Issue number31
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 8 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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