A prebiotic template-directed peptide synthesis based on amyloids

Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 16;9(1):234. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02742-3.

Abstract

The prebiotic replication of information-coding molecules is a central problem concerning life's origins. Here, we report that amyloids composed of short peptides can direct the sequence-selective, regioselective and stereoselective condensation of amino acids. The addition of activated DL-arginine and DL-phenylalanine to the peptide RFRFR-NH2 in the presence of the complementary template peptide Ac-FEFEFEFE-NH2 yields the isotactic product FRFRFRFR-NH2, 1 of 64 possible triple addition products, under conditions in which the absence of template yields only single and double additions of mixed stereochemistry. The templating mechanism appears to be general in that a different amyloid formed by (Orn)V(Orn)V(Orn)V(Orn)V-NH2 and Ac-VDVDVDVDV-NH2 is regioselective and stereoselective for N-terminal, L-amino-acid addition while the ornithine-valine peptide alone yields predominantly sidechain condensation products with little stereoselectivity. Furthermore, the templating reaction is stable over a wide range of pH (5.6-8.6), salt concentration (0-4 M NaCl), and temperature (25-90 °C), making the amyloid an attractive model for a prebiotic peptide replicating system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Amino Acids / genetics
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure
  • Arginine / chemistry
  • Arginine / genetics
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / methods*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Origin of Life
  • Peptide Biosynthesis / genetics
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry
  • Phenylalanine / genetics
  • Phenylalanine / metabolism
  • Sodium Chloride / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Temperature
  • Templates, Genetic

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Amyloid
  • Peptides
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Phenylalanine
  • Arginine