Prebiotic Synthesis of Pyrimidine Nucleosides: New Insights into RNA Evolution

Información del proyecto

PRENUCRNA

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 752420

DOI

10.3030/752420

Proyecto finalizado el 15 Mayo 2018

Fecha de la firma de la CE 22 Febrero 2017

Fecha de inicio 1 Junio 2017

Fecha de finalización 31 Mayo 2019

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 171 460,80

Aportación de la UE

€ 171 460,80

Coordinado por

LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN
Germany

Objetivo

Understanding how life evolved on Earth is widely regarded as one of the most formidable challenges in modern science. The exploration of the mechanisms regarding the origin of life not only expands our understanding of natural sciences, but also provides new clues regarding the search for life forms and Earth-like conditions on planets other than our own. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is widely regarded by the scientific community as the key molecule that gave rise to the origin of life. In order to support this “RNA World” hypothesis, scientists over the years have attempted to replicate the conditions present on the early-earth to afford nucleosides in a prebiotic manner. The lack of a uniform synthetic pathway affording canonical purine and pyrimidine nucleosides as well as non-canonical ones impedes our deeper understanding of the early evolution of RNA. Moreover, what has not been investigated in detail is the occurrence of a more primitive prebiotic molecule that might have evolved into RNA over the millennia. In this project, Dr. Okamura aims to study the prebiotic emergence of pyrimidine and pyrimidine-like nucleosides by developing a novel cyanoacetylurea pathway. This is expected to provide canonical as well as non-canonical pyrimidines under prebiotically plausible conditions. Using similar principles, novel pseudo-cyclic pyrimidines, inspired by the aforementioned pathway, will also be synthesized in order to examine their potential validity as candidates for primitive RNA. This project will provide new insight into the evolution of RNA as well as a deeper understanding of the origin of life. Moreover, it will aim to inspire novel approaches towards the European space exploration programs for the search of Earth-like conditions as well as life forms on other planets. This multidisciplinary field, where astrobiology meets prebiotic and nucleic acid chemistry will inspire and offer unique training to Dr. Okamura enabling him to embark on his own academic career.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › astronomía › exploración espacial
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › bioquímica › biomoléculas › ácido nucleico
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › astronomía › ciencias planetarias › planetas
• ciencias naturales › ciencias químicas › catálisis
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › genética › ARN

Palabras clave

• Prebiotic chemistry
• Nucleic acid chemistry
• Nucleoside synthesis
• RNA synthesis
• Oligonucleotides
• RNA evolution
• Origin of life
• Space exploration

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
  

Tema(s)

• MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships
  

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-MSCA-IF-2016

Coordinador

LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 171 460,80
• Dirección: GESCHWISTER SCHOLL PLATZ 1 ; 80539 MUNCHEN ; Alemania
• Región: Bayern › Oberbayern › München, Kreisfreie Stadt
• Tipo de actividad: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Coste total: € 171 460,80