Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Origin and Role of Optical Isomery in Life

Nature volume 219, pages 338–340 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

When D and L isomers of tyrosine were bombarded with β-particles, the D isomer decomposed more quickly. A possible reaction mechanism would have relevance to the origin of life.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Oparin, A. I., The Origin of Life on Earth (Pergamon Press, New York, 1959). Fox, W. S., The Origins of Prebiological Systems and of Their Molecular Matrices (Academic Press, New York, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Van't Hoff, I., Die Lagerung der Atome im Raume (Vierweg, Braunschweig, 1908).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Karagunis, G., and Drikos, G., Zschr. Physic. Chem., 26, B, 428 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Davis, T., and Ackerman, I., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 67, 486 (1945).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kuhn, W., and Braun, E., Naturwissenschaften, 17, 227 (1929).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee, T. D., and Yang, C. N., Phys. Rev., 104, 254 (1956).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vester, F., Seminar at Yale University, February 7, 1957.

  8. Vester, F., and Ulbricht, T. L. V., and Krauch, H., Naturwissenschaften, 46, 68 (1959). Ulbricht, T. L. V., Quart. Revs., 13, 48 (1959). Ulbricht, T. L. V., and Vester, F., Tetrahedron, 18, 629 (1962). Vester, F., dissertation, Univ. Saarlandes, Saarbrücken (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Beychock, S., Science, 154, 1288 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Drude, P., Lehrbuch der Optik (1900); reviewed in Lowry, M., Optical Rotatory Power (Longmans, Green, London, 1935).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. Kuhn, W., Ann. Rev. Phys. Chem., 9, 417 (1958).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Davies, M., Some Electrical and Optical Aspects of Molecular Behaviour (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kauzmann, W., Walter, J. E., and Eyring, H., Chem. Revs., 26, 339 (1940).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Reid, C., Excited States in Chemistry and Biology (Butterworths, London, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Szent-Györgyi, A., Bioenergetics (Academic Press, New York, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. A. S. GARAY

    Present address: Jozsef Attila University, Szeged, TansiCs M.U.2, Hungary

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemical Laboratory, Institute of Plant Breeding, Fertöd, Hungary

    A. S. GARAY

Authors
  1. A. S. GARAY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GARAY, A. Origin and Role of Optical Isomery in Life. Nature 219, 338–340 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219338a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/219338a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing