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Biomedical subjects

H Hartman

Publications and source records attributed to H Hartman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Smectite interactions with flavomononucleotide.

Adsorption isotherms and UV-visible and Mossbauer spectroscopic data point to specific interactions between flavomononucleotide (FMN) and Fe(3+)-smectite. The maximum amount of FMN adsorption was 0.3 mmole/g of Fe(3+)-smectite giving a 1:1 molar proportion of Fe3+ and FMN. The results suggest a Fe(3+)-FMN complex residing at the smectite surface. Other homoionic smectites (Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ca2+) exhibited lower levels of adsorption and less apparent specific interaction.

Adsorption↗

The origin of the eukaryotic cell.

The endosymbiotic hypothesis for the origin of the eukaryotic cell has been applied to the origin of the mitochondria and chloroplasts. However as has been pointed out by Mereschowsky in 1905, it should also be applied to the nucleus as well. If the nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts are endosymbionts, then it is likely that the organism that did the engulfing was not a DNA-based organism. In fact, it is useful to postulate that this organism was a primitive RNA-based organism. This hypothesis would explain the preponderance of RNA viruses found in eukaryotic cells. The centriole and basal body do not have a double membrane or DNA. Like all MTOCs (microtubule organising centres), they have a structural or morphic RNA implicated in their formation. This would argue for their origin in the early RNA-based organism rather than in an endosymbiotic event involving bacteria. Finally, the eukaryotic cell uses RNA in ways quite unlike bacteria, thus pointing to a greater emphasis of RNA in both control and structure in the cell. The origin of the eukaryotic cell may tell us why it rather than its prokaryotic relative evolved into the metazoans who are reading this paper.

Biological Evolution↗

Synthesis of organic compounds from carbon monoxide and water by UV photolysis.

The photolysis of water vapor with carbon monoxide at 1849 A yields alcohols, aldehydes and organic acids, with an overall quantum yield of 3.3 x 10(-2). This rather high quantum yield could have led to a contribution of approximately 10(11) organic molecules cm-2 sec-1 to the pool of organic material on the primitive Earth. The reactions are initiated by the photolysis of water molecules and the resulting hydrogen atoms reduce the carbon monoxide to a variety of one and two carbon compounds. The organic molecules are dissolved in water and thus escape destruction by photolysis. Photolysis of water vapor with carbon dioxide did not yield organic compounds under these conditions.

Carbon Monoxide↗

Speculations on the evolution of the genetic code. II.

An evolutionary scheme is postulated in which a primitive code, involving only guanine and cytosine, would code for glycine (GG), alanine (GC), arginine (CG) and proline (CC). From each of these amino acids and their codons, there evolves a family of related amino acids as the code expands. The four families are: (1) alanine valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine and tryptophane; (2) proline, threonine and serine; (3) arginine, lysine, and histidine; (4) glycine, serine cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, aspartic acid and asparagine. Except for the glycine relation to glutamic acid and aspartic acid, all amino acids are related by chemical similarities in their side chains. Glycine not having a side chain would permit a more complex set of substitutions.

Amino Acids↗

Speculations on the origin and evolution of metabolism.

An autotrophic origin of metabolism is described, which requires clays, transition state metals, disulfide and dithiols, U.V. and cyanide ion. A general scheme is proposed, involving the fixation of CO2 and N2, for the evolution of intermediary metabolism based on the evolution of a complex system from a simple one. The basic conclusion is that metabolism could have evolved from a simple environment rather than from a complex one.

Aluminum Silicates↗

Speculations on the evolution of the genetic code.

An evolutionary scheme is postulated in which the bases enter the genetic code in a definite temporal sequence and the correlated amino acids are assigned definite functions in the evolving system. The scheme requires a singlet code (guanine coding for glycine) evolving into a doublet code (guanine-cytosine doublet coding for gly (GG), ala (GC), arg (CG), pro (CC). The doublet code evolves into a triplet code. Polymerization of nucleotides is thought to have been by block polymerization rather than by a template mechanism. The proteins formed at first were simple structural peptides. No direct nucleotide-amino acid stereo-chemical interaction was required. Rather an adaptor-type indirect mechanism is thought to have been functioning since the origin.

Biological Evolution↗