Phosphoribosylphosphate and phosphoribosylnicotinate pairing with phosphoribosylamine at the origin of the RNA world

• Pre-ribonucleotides are expected to account for the constraints of self-catalytic synthesis of the initial molecular building blocks.
• Phosphoribosyl-phosphate and phosphoribosylamine form the earliest pre-ribonucleotide pair.
• Phosphoribosyl-aspartate and phosphoribosyl-nicotinate play a central role for reduced carbon chemistry of ribose synthesis.
• Phosphoribosyl-nicotinate represents the earliest heterocyclic nucleotide.

The gap between prebiotic chemistry and the RNA origin of life lies in the nature of the pre-ribonucleotides that initiated replication-like activity. The present paper illustrates how the constraints for self-catalytic synthesis of the building blocks point to ionic pairing of the first pre-ribonucleotides and point to a central role for nicotinate.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide