Submitted by kappusha t3_1047lki in askscience
kappusha OP t1_j3cx6yt wrote
Reply to comment by Xilon-Diguus in Is there abiotic way of mononucleotide polymerization? by kappusha
>Yes, as a general rule if it can happen with an enzyme it can happen without an enzyme, enzymes just help things along.
As far as I know it can happen between only nucleoside triphosphates, but not between nucleoside monophosphate. And nucleoside monophosphate can't become nucleoside triphosphates without enzymes abiotically. If I'm wrong correct me.
Xilon-Diguus t1_j3degrc wrote
Yes, they can form abiotically and spontaneously, it just requires energy input from the environment (ie heat) at some stage. Also, keep in mind that diphosphates also have energetically favorable dephosphorylation reactions, they just do not work for the biotic enzyme for DNA synthesis.
If you get too deep down this rabbit hole you are going to need a chemist to answer your questions, but here is a review of how the field currently thinks it may have happened.
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