Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Nucleoside Triphosphates - From Synthesis to Biochemical Characterization
Published on: April 3, 2014
A Prebiotic Ribosylation of Pyrimidine Nucleobases Enabled by Metal Cations and Clay Minerals
Qian-Qian Chen1, Ze-Run Zhao1, Xiao Wang1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China.
Abstract:
We report a prebiotically relevant solution to the N1-ribosylation of pyrimidine nucleobases, a well-known challenge to the RNA world hypothesis. We found that the presence of metal cations and clay minerals enable the previously unachievable direct ribosylation of uracil. Spectroscopy and chromatography analyses confirmed the formation of ribosylated uracil. The method can be extended to the ribosylation of 2-pyrimidinone. These findings are also compatible with the metal-doped-clay model, developed by our lab for the unified route of the selection of ribose and subsequent syntheses of nucleotide and RNA.
More Related Videos
11:37Protocol for the Solid-phase Synthesis of Oligomers of RNA Containing a 2'-O-thiophenylmethyl Modification and Characterization via Circular Dichroism
Published on: July 28, 2017
09:04Studying Ribonucleotide Incorporation: Strand-specific Detection of Ribonucleotides in the Yeast Genome and Measuring Ribonucleotide-induced Mutagenesis
Published on: July 26, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
Conditions on Early Earth
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can...
Riboswitches
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...