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Cyclic Dipeptides Formation From Linear Dipeptides Under Potentially Prebiotic Earth Conditions
Yeting Guo1,2, Jianxi Ying1,2, Dongru Sun1,2
1Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Frontiers in Chemistry
|July 15, 2021
Summary
Cyclic dipeptides (DKPs) form spontaneously from linear peptides in water. Their formation is influenced by peptide sequence and trimetaphosphate, suggesting DKPs
Area of Science:
- Astrobiology
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cyclic dipeptides (DKPs) are crucial peptide precursors and chiral catalysts.
- DKPs are implicated in prebiotic chemical processes relevant to the origin of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spontaneous formation of proline-containing cyclic dipeptides (DKPs) from linear dipeptides in aqueous solutions.
- To determine the influence of linear dipeptide sequence and trimetaphosphate on DKP yields.
Main Methods:
- Spontaneous cyclization reactions of linear dipeptides in aqueous solutions.
- Analysis of DKP formation yields under varying reaction conditions, including the presence of trimetaphosphate.
Main Results:
- Proline-containing cyclic dipeptides (DKPs) were spontaneously obtained from linear dipeptides.
- DKP yields were significantly affected by the specific sequence of the precursor linear dipeptides.
- The presence of trimetaphosphate demonstrably influenced the yields of DKP formation.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous DKP formation from linear dipeptides is feasible under prebiotic conditions.
- The sequence-dependent and environmentally modulated formation of DKPs highlights their potential role in early life chemistry.
- These findings support the hypothesis that DKPs could have played a significant role in the origin of life.
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