Efficient metal-ion catalyzed template-directed oligonucleotide synthesis.

The Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions are efficient catalysts for the polycytidylic acid-directed polymerization of an activated guanylic acid derivative, guanosine 5'-phosphorimidazolide. The products include oligomers of 30 to 40 units in length. The nucleotide residues are predominantly 2'-5' linked when Pb2+ is the catalyst, and predominantly 3'-5' linked in the presence of Zn2+. The significance of these results in the context of the prebiotic evolution of RNA polymerase is discussed.