EMERGENCE OF TEMPLATE-AND-SEQUENCE-DIRECTED (TSD) SYNTHESES: I. A BIO-GEOCHEMICAL MODEL

A biogeochemical model for the evolution of template-and-sequence-directed (TSD) syntheses of biological templates (proto-RNAs) and catalysts (peptides) is described. A fluctuating environment characterized by hydrating (cool) and dehydrating (warm) phases with cycles of consecutive organic reactions, as well as a constant supply of the polymeric building blocks is assumed. The scenario starts with the catalyzed formation of a primordial population of small random peptides, based on the relatively-ineffective mineral catalysts. The resulting peptides initiate a catalytic takeover process, during which the catalytic functions are gradually taken over by peptides. The evolution of TSD peptides is based on a combination of Lahavs (1991) co-evolution and Möller and Janssen's (1990) specific recognition sites hypotheses. During the emergence of TSD systems the fraction of TSD peptides and proto-RNA constituents rises from almost insignificance to dominance in a TSD Reactions Takeover. The TSD system is characterized by autocatalysis, positive feedback loops and a primordial genetic code. The model is the basis for a computer program (Part II of present series).     

Lowering of Endogenous Lipoxygenase Activity in Pisum sativum Foliage by Cytokinin as Related to Senescence

Cytokinin (CK), when applied to intact pea plants, considerably lowered endogenous lipoxygenase levels. Furthermore it was demonstrated that the triggering of senescence induced by leaf detachment was invariably accompanied by a significant increase of lipoxygenase activity and the CK application considerably decelerates lipoxygenase increment. It is suggested that the lipoxygenase repression induced by CK is a contributing mechanism to the overall antisenescence action of the hormone, and that this may have biological implications.