V. Kolb et Le. Orgel, OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AS PROBES FOR STUDYING POLYMERIZATION REACTIONS IN DILUTE AQUEOUS-SOLUTION, Journal of molecular evolution, 38(5), 1994, pp. 433-437
We have prepared a P-32-labeled oligonucleotide probe carrying a fre
e primary amine at its 3'-terminus. This probe is used to initiate pol
ymerization of aziridine (ethyleneimine) in aqueous solution. The natu
re of the oligomeric products and the kinetics of their formation are
then monitored by gel electrophoresis. Our results are generally consi
stent with those obtained using conventional techniques. We have also
investigated the effect of polyanionic templates on the rate of oligom
erization of aziridine. We find that water-soluble polyanions generall
y accelerate the polymerization. The sodium salt of polymethacrylic ac
id is the most effective of the templates that we studied. The methods
introduced in this paper should be applicable to a variety of polymer
ization reactions in aqueous solution. They should greatly simplify th
e screening of potentially prebiotic polymerization reactions.