The specificity of peptide chain extension by N-carboxyanhydrides

Authors
Wen, K Orgel, LE
Citation
K. Wen et Le. Orgel, The specificity of peptide chain extension by N-carboxyanhydrides, ORIGIN LIFE, 31(3), 2001, pp. 241-248
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Experimental Biology
Journal title
ORIGINS OF LIFE AND EVOLUTION OF THE BIOSPHERE
ISSN journal
01696149 → ACNP
Volume
31
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
241 - 248
Database
ISI
SICI code
0169-6149(200106)31:3<241:TSOPCE>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
We have used amino acids activated by carbonyldiimidazole to study the enan tiospecificity of peptide elongation in aqueous solution. Peptide 'primers' Glu(10) and Ala(3)Glu(10) were elongated with the enantiomers of arginine, glutamic acid, asparagine, phenylalanine, serine and valine. The homochira l addition was always the more efficient reaction; the enantiospecificity w as large in some cases but very small in others. In every case Ala(3)Glu(10 ) was elongated more efficiently than Glu(10).