ENERGETICS OF PEPTIDE-BOND FORMATION AT ELEVATED-TEMPERATURES

The free energies of formation of the peptide bond between carbobenzoxy-glycine and L-phenylalanine amide in aqueous solution at temperatures up to 60°C were calculated from experimentally determined equilibrium constants. The reaction was catalyzed by a thermophylic enzyme. The thermodynamic energy barrier to peptide bond formation was found to decrease with increasing temperature: the standard free energy of peptide bond formation did appear to become negative in the region of 60°C. The possible significance of these results for peptide bond formation under prebiotic conditions is discussed. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.