College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-04 14:37:03
Major
Biochemistry
Honors Course
Honors Project in Chemistry
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2021
Abstract
Nucleic acids are important molecules for all life, serving as the primary molecules for information storage and reproduction. RNA has long been thought to be the molecule that initiated protein synthesis. However, RNA has recently been thought to be too complex to synthesize prebiotically. Through a 1:1 mole ratio condensation of glycerol and phosphoric acid, I generated glycerol-phosphate oligomers that resemble a primitive form of the carbon-phosphate backbone of RNA. 75 mmol MgCl2 was added to some samples to see if the Mg cation could stabilize the reaction intermediates and further promote longer proto-RNA oligomers. These samples were all heated at 120 °C for 96 hours. Using NMR, the products of this reaction were characterized, and successful phosphate binding to glycerol was observed. Mass spectrometry was used to determine the length of the oligomers that were formed. I observed successful production of oligomers as long as pentamers, with significantly less production in samples containing Mg2+. Additionally, the products were observed under a light microscope to see the formation of any physical structures. Vesicle-like structures were observed, ranging from 10-30 microns in size. This indicates the potential ability of glycerol-phosphate oligomers to spontaneously arrange into vesicles according to its intramolecular hydrophobicity.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Nita Sahai
First Reader
Carrie Tomko
Second Reader
Dr. Hazel Barton
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Adam Smith
Recommended Citation
Parker, Noah, "Proto-RNA Synthesis Using Glycerol and Phosphate Anion" (2021). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1311.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1311