Abstract A simplified mathematical model of the origin of the left-handed asymmetry of proteins in living matter is presented. The model is based on the hypothesis of Vester and Ulbricht that the chirality of (lefthanded) electrons from naturally beta-active elements, e.g.,14C,40K, etc., was the specific source of the asymmetry; it requires for its application data on the interaction of electrons having non-zero chirality with racemic mixtures of amino acids. This interaction is here treated theoretically in an order-of-magnitude calculation. Our analysis yields a very approximate value of the induced steady-state asymmetry in the amino acids at the beginning of protein synthesis and indicates that this asymmetry, though small, may have been suffcient to account for the dominant left-handedness of proteins now observed.
Chirality of electrons from beta-decay and the left-handed asymmetry of proteins
Origins of life ; 11 , 3
1981
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
Lokalklassifikation TIB: | 535/3908/4290 | |
BKL: | 44.71 Verkehrsmedizin |
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