Hydrogen cyanide polymers connect cosmochemistry and biochemistry

Abstract

To understand the origin of protein/nucleic acid based life as we know it on Earth, we must "follow" the nitrogen. Because of its unique hydrogen bonding characteristics, nitrogen is the key element in catalytic and/or informational proteins and nucleic acids essential to cell function and reproduction. We present evidence that HCN is the original source of prebiotic protein and nucleobase nitrogen. We also present chemically rational models supporting the radical hypothesis that the polymerization of HCN yields ab initio mundi prebiotic protein and polynucleobase macromolecules of sufficient size and complexity to allow the spontaneous generation of pre-RNA World biopolymers capable of catalysis and information transfer. © 2008 International Astronomical Union.