PMID: 1202234Oct 29, 1975Paper

On the origin of molecular "handedness" in living systems

Journal of Molecular Evolution
H P Noyes, W A Bonner

Abstract

Elementary particle effects (beta-decay) provide at best only a weakly handed radiation in the biologically effective energy ranges. Global magnetic effects coupled to sunlight are randomized by paleomagnetic reversals. Hence a persistent terrestrial handed bias at possible local biopoetic sites offers a more promising explanation for the origin of the "handedness" of the molecules found among living systems on earth. Magnetite in lava flows maintains a handed bias for surface catalysis through many magnetic reversals. Magnetite contaminated with sulfur has already been proposed by Granick as a biopoetic site because it provides a weak source of chemical energy derived by photochemical conversion. Indirect evidence for this hypothesis has been provided by the molecular structure of ferredoxin - a single strand of the 14 primordial amino acids wrapped around an FeS core. Lava flows have been suggested as biopoetic sites by Fox, since their temperature and chemical composition might allow for the rapid synthesis of prebiotic compounds at the surface of the primitive earth. The additional fact that magnetite in lave flows also provides a persistent handed site for surface catalysis offers a further argument for the experimental in...Continue Reading

References

Aug 30, 1957·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·S GRANICK
Aug 30, 1957·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·G WALD
Jul 9, 1971·Nature·L Mörtberg
Apr 9, 1971·Science·M W McElhinny
Jan 17, 1969·Science·A Cox

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Citations

Apr 1, 1997·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·M Levin
Mar 1, 1981·Origins of Life·W A BonnerF M Dirbas
Apr 1, 1977·Origins of Life·H P NoyesJ A Tomlin

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