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2002 Annual Science Report

Scripps Research Institute Reporting  |  JUL 2001 – JUN 2002

Switzer - Self-Reproducing Molecular Systems and Darwinian Chemistry

4 Institutions
3 Teams
0 Publications
0 Field Sites
Field Sites

Project Progress

The primary goal of the Switzer laboratory is to synthesize Alternative Nucleic Acids (ANAs) to attempt the optimization of polymer structure subject to the constraints of prebiotic availability, template-directed reproduction, replication conservative mutation, and fitness. We have identified ANAs by taking small steps in "structure-space" away from ribonucleic acid (RNA) (the best model for a molecule bearing features both universal and unique to life) that may avoid some of the problems inherent in fulfillment of the aforementioned constraints. Specifically, the Switzer laboratory is examining ANAs with novel changes to (i) base-pairing domains, (ii) backbone charges and (iii) sugar. These studies will help to define chemical parameters for molecular evolution. Moreover, our work addresses whether nucleic acid-like molecules are sufficient to enable the origin of life and what limitations exist for life elsewhere in the universe based on a single biopolymer (eg. RNA) rather than multiple biopolymers (DNA, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates). Accomplishments by our group for the past year include: (i) discovery of a non-standard base-pair that provides a vast improvement in the efficiency of non-enzymatic template directed synthesis over the canonical A•T base-pair, (ii) an assessment of how tethered cations affect DNA topology, (iii) discovery of new methodology for the selection of DNA aptamers that incorporate alternative nucleic acids, (iv) a full comparison of the thermodynamic behavior of the non-standard iso-guanine•iso-cytosine base pair and its sulfur counterpart, the 2-thio-isoguanine•iso-cytosine pair. Several of these findings are discussed below in more detail.

  • PROJECT INVESTIGATORS:
  • PROJECT MEMBERS:
    Christopher Switzer
    Project Investigator

    Azizul Haque
    Postdoc

    Subbarao Nallagatal
    Postdoc

    Surajit Sinha
    Postdoc

    John Chaput
    Doctoral Student

    Paul Kim
    Doctoral Student

    Dong-Kye Lee
    Doctoral Student

  • RELATED OBJECTIVES:
    Objective 1.0
    Determine whether the atmosphere of the early Earth, hydrothermal systems or exogenous matter were significant sources of organic matter.

    Objective 2.0
    Develop and test plausible pathways by which ancient counterparts of membrane systems, proteins and nucleic acids were synthesized from simpler precursors and assembled into protocells.

    Objective 3.0
    Replicating, catalytic systems capable of evolution, and construct laboratory models of metabolism in primitive living systems.

    Objective 9.0
    Determine the presence of life's chemical precursors and potential habitats for life in the outer solar system.