Generation of oligonucleotides under hydrothermal conditions by non-enzymatic polymerization

We previously reported that 5'-mononucleotides organized within a multilamellar lipid matrix can produce oligomers in the anhydrous phase of hydration-dehydration (HD) cycles. However, hydrolysis of oligomers can occur during hydration, and it is important to better understand the steady state in which ester bond synthesis is balanced by hydrolysis. In order to study condensation products of mononucleotides and hydrolysis of their polymers, we established a simulation of HD cycles that would occur on the early Earth when volcanic land masses emerged from the ocean over 4 billion years ago. At this stage on early Earth, precipitation produced hydrothermal fields characterized by small aqueous pools undergoing evaporation and refilling at elevated temperatures. Here, we confirm that under these conditions, the chemical potential made available by cycles of hydration and dehydration is sufficient to drive synthesis of ester bonds. If 5'-mononucleotides are in solution at millimolar concentrations, then oligomers resembling RNA are synthesized and exist in a steady state with their monomers. Furthermore, if the mononucleotides can form complementary base pairs, then some of the products have properties suggesting that secondary structures are present, including duplex species stabilized by hydrogen bonds.