Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Subject: LCSH
RNA
Disciplines
Chemical Engineering | Chemistry | Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
We present computational models for the replication of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) or related macromolecules under thermal cycling conditions that would reflect prebiotic (i.e. non-enzymatic) environments. Two models of the replication of dsRNA are represented as multi-step chemical systems. The objective of this investigation was to better understand the kinetic features of such chemical systems. It is shown that thermal cycling in a chemical system is advantageous (relative to a fixed temperature) if there are two competing reactions, one favored at high temperature and one favored at low temperature. For the prebiotic replication of dsRNA, a high temperature favors formation of the two single stranded RNA (ssRNA) templates and a presumptive catalysis or catalytic surface is active at low temperature at which the ssRNA template is copied. Our models may facilitate understanding possible prebiotic conditions for the replication of dsRNA.
DOI
DOI: 10.5539/ijc.v4n5p9
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Repository Citation
Schwartz, Pauline; Lepore, Dante M.; and Barratt, Carl, "Kinetic Models of the Prebiotic Replication of dsRNA under Thermal Cycling Conditions" (2012). Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications. 4.
https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/chemicalengineering-facpubs/4
Publisher Citation
Schwartz, P., Lepore, D., & Barratt, C. (2012). Kinetic Models of the Prebiotic Replication of dsRNA under Thermal Cycling Conditions. International Journal of Chemistry, 4(5), 9-15. DOI: 10.5539/ijc.v4n5p9
Comments
Open access.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.