Template-directed nonenzymatic oligonucleotide synthesis: Lessons from synthetic chemistry

Abstract

The nonenzymatic synthesis of nucleic acids, in particular, RNA, and the template-directed synthesis of artificial organic molecules, such as macrocycles, catenanes and rotaxanes, have both undergone significant development since the last half of the 20th century. The intersection of these two fields affords insights into how template effects can lead to information copying and storage at the molecular level. Mechanistic examples of model template-directed RNA replication experiments as well as those for totally artificial organic template-directed syntheses will be discussed. The fact that templates typically bind to their reacted products more tightly than their unreacted substrates may be a mechanistic feature necessary to store information in the form of nucleic acids. Understanding the mechanisms of nonenzymatic RNA synthesis is not only essential for testing the RNA world hypothesis in the context of the origin of life on Earth and other planetary bodies, but may one day afford chemists the insights to construct their own artificial molecular replicators.