A possible prebiotic peptide formation from glycinamide and related compounds

Abstract

We examined an experimental approach to the genesis of protocells in the primeval sea. Glycine polymers with an average chain length of 12 were formed from glycinamide in fluctuating systems (pH 7.2, 80°C, 20 cycles). The resulting glycine polymers gave aggregated leaflet-like structures. A solution of the glycine polymers provided stacked disc-shaped structures in the presence of LiBr and gave sheet structures in the presence of dichloroacetic acid. The shapes of these organized structures were correlated with their molecular structures. © 1984 D. Reidel Publishing Company.