Abstract
Using the model of a primitive earth evaporating pond, peptides were formed in yields of up to 21%, 30% and 35%, respectively for alanine, phenylalanine, and leucine when aqueous solutions of the appropriate amino acid were evaporated and heated for 24 hrs at 80°C with cyanamide and one or more of the following components; adenosine 5′-triphosphate, 4-amino-5 imidazole carboxamide, or MgCl2. The greatest peptide yield was achieved at about pH 3. But peptide formation was demonstrated for a system of leu, cyanamide and MgCl2 adjusted to pH 7 with NH4OH. The incorporation of radioactive amino acids into products was found to be increased in the presence of MgCl2 at all pH’s studied, which ranged from 3 to 7. The major side product in all reactions appears to be an amino acid-cyanamide adduct. The peptides were analyzed and identified by thin layer chromatography, acid hydrolysis, and enzymatic degradation.
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