BIOCHEMICALLY IMPORTANT COMPOUNDS 213 



high molecular weight which were, in many ways, similar 

 to proteins. 



If this is true, the depths of the ocean, where quite a high 

 hydrostatic pressure prevails (though not as high as that 

 required by Bresler), may have been a suitable place for the 

 synthesis of polypeptides. 



Unfortunately works have recently appeared"* which cast 

 doubts on Bresler's results, and we must await the experi- 

 mental settlement of the argument which has arisen on this 

 score. 



In all cases where they have expressed an opinion, those 

 who have worked on the subject hold that it is possible that 

 polypeptides could have been formed in the same way in 

 which they are now produced in living bodies, by the poly- 

 merisation of pre-existing amino acids. This, however, is not 

 the sole or necessary way in which primary formation of 

 polypeptides could have taken place in the waters of the 

 primaeval ocean. 



As a result of his extensive studies of the synthesis of amino 

 acids G. Ehrensvard"^ became convinced that in the syn- 

 thesis of polypeptides in the waters of the primaeval ocean 

 an extremely important part must have been played by 

 polymers of hydrocyanic acid, in particular the tetramer 

 (hcn)^ which has the structure of a nitrile 



C = N 



As early as 1911 T. B. Johnson"® demonstrated the possibil- 

 ity of the polymerisation of glycinonitrile in simple aqueous 

 solution with hydrogen sulphide 



NH. CHo.CN + H,S + NH2 CH2.CN + HoS -> 



NH2 CH2.CSNH2-f NH, CH2.CSNH2 -> 



NH2CH2.CS.NHCH2.CS.NHCH2.es 



-fNHa 4-NH, +NH3 



