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Molecular recognition and self-replication

Academic Article
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Overview

authors

  • Rebek Jr., Julius

publication date

  • 1992

journal

  • Journal of Molecular Recognition  Journal

abstract

  • Self-replicating molecules stand at the very boundary of chemistry with biology. This review describes the development of synthetic structures capable of self-replication from studies in molecular recognition. The weak intermolecular forces--hydrogen bonds and aromatic stacking interactions--that characterize interactions of nucleic acid components were designed into synthetic receptors for adenine. Covalent conjugates of these receptors with adenines gave self-complementary structures capable of replication. The new systems feature autocatalysis, sigmoidal product growth and even mutation. General rules for the design of replicating systems are described and these suggest that the evolution of replicating molecules was an inevitable event.

subject areas

  • Base Composition
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Proteins
  • Thymine
  • Uracil
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Identity

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0952-3499

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/jmr.300050302

PubMed ID

  • 1298303
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Additional Document Info

start page

  • 83

end page

  • 88

volume

  • 5

issue

  • 3

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