Avetisov V V, Goldanskii V I
N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR.
Biosystems. 1991;25(3):141-9. doi: 10.1016/0303-2647(91)90002-3.
The problem discussed in this paper is the connection between the unique property of biopolymers (proteins, DNA and RNA), i.e. homochirality, and their main functional property, i.e. self-replication. Our approach is based on an analysis of the conditions for the origination of the mechanism of self-replication of chiral polymers. It is demonstrated that self-replication could originate only on the basis of homochiral structures, possessing stereospecific (enzymatic) activity. It is also shown that complete breaking of the mirror symmetry of the organic medium is required both at the stage of polymeric takeover and at the stage of formation of structures possessing stereospecific activity. This requirement is satisfied only in the framework of the mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking i.e. the mechanism of non-equilibrium phase transition from the racemic state of the organic medium to the chirally pure one. The results obtained suggest that homochirality is a necessary condition for the origination of biological specificity and plays a fundamental role in the formation of structures capable of self-replication.
本文所讨论的问题是生物聚合物（蛋白质、DNA和RNA）的独特性质，即同手性，与其主要功能性质，即自我复制之间的联系。我们的方法基于对手性聚合物自我复制机制起源条件的分析。结果表明，自我复制只能基于具有立体特异性（酶促）活性的同手性结构而产生。研究还表明，在聚合物接管阶段和具有立体特异性活性的结构形成阶段，都需要完全打破有机介质的镜像对称性。只有在自发对称性破缺机制，即从有机介质的外消旋状态到手性纯状态的非平衡相变机制的框架内，这一要求才能得到满足。所得结果表明，同手性是生物特异性起源的必要条件，并且在能够自我复制的结构形成过程中起着基础性作用。
