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Grefenstette N, Chou L, Colón-Santos S, Fisher TM, Mierzejewski V, Nural C, Sinhadc P, Vidaurri M, Vincent L, Weng MM. Chapter 9: Life as We Don't Know It. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S186-S201. [PMID: 38498819 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
While Earth contains the only known example of life in the universe, it is possible that life elsewhere is fundamentally different from what we are familiar with. There is an increased recognition in the astrobiology community that the search for life should steer away from terran-specific biosignatures to those that are more inclusive to all life-forms. To start exploring the space of possibilities that life could occupy, we can try to dissociate life from the chemistry that composes it on Earth by envisioning how different life elsewhere could be in composition, lifestyle, medium, and form, and by exploring how the general principles that govern living systems on Earth might be found in different forms and environments across the Solar System. Exotic life-forms could exist on Mars or Venus, or icy moons like Europa and Enceladus, or even as a shadow biosphere on Earth. New perspectives on agnostic biosignature detection have also begun to emerge, allowing for a broader and more inclusive approach to seeking exotic life with unknown chemistry that is distinct from life as we know it on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Grefenstette
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Luoth Chou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Theresa M Fisher
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Ceren Nural
- Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pritvik Sinhadc
- BEYOND: Center For Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
- Dubai College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Monica Vidaurri
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Howard University, DC, USA
| | - Lena Vincent
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Angelis G, Kordopati GG, Zingkou E, Karioti A, Sotiropoulou G, Pampalakis G. Plausible Emergence of Biochemistry in Enceladus Based on Chemobrionics. Chemistry 2021; 27:600-604. [PMID: 33108005 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Saturn's satellite Enceladus is proposed to have a soda-type subsurface ocean with temperature able to support life and an iron ore-based core. Here, it was demonstrated that ocean chemistry related to Enceladus can support the development of Fe-based hydrothermal vents, one of the places suggested to be the cradle of life. The Fe-based chemical gardens were characterized with Fourier-transform (FT)IR spectroscopy and XRD. The developed chemobrionic structures catalyzed the condensation polymerization of simple organic prebiotic molecules to kerogens. Further, they could passively catalyze the condensation of the prebiotic molecule formamide to larger polymers, suggesting that elementary biochemical precursors could have emerged in Enceladus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Angelis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Golfo G Kordopati
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Eleni Zingkou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Anastasia Karioti
- Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Sotiropoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Georgios Pampalakis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Angelis G, Zayed DN, Karioti A, Lazari D, Kanata E, Sklaviadis T, Pampalakis G. A Closed Chemobrionic System as a Biochemical Delivery Platform. Chemistry 2019; 25:12916-12919. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201903255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Angelis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Dimitris Nabil Zayed
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Anastasia Karioti
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Diamanto Lazari
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Eirini Kanata
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Theodoros Sklaviadis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
| | - Georgios Pampalakis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-PharmacologySchool of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124 Greece
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Pampalakis
- Department of PharmacyAristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki 54124
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Nakanishi K, Cooper GJT, Points LJ, Bloor LG, Ohba M, Cronin L. Development of a Minimal Photosystem for Hydrogen Production in Inorganic Chemical Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:13066-13070. [PMID: 30105766 PMCID: PMC6348376 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201805584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Inorganic chemical cells (iCHELLs) are compartment structures consisting of polyoxometalates (POMs) and cations, offering structured and confined reaction spaces bounded by membranes. We have constructed a system capable of efficient anisotropic and hierarchical photo-induced electron transfer across the iCHELL membrane. Mimicking photosynthesis, our system uses proton gradients between the compartment and the bulk to drive efficient conversion of light into chemical energy, producing hydrogen upon irradiation. This illustrates the power of the iCHELL approach for catalysis, where the structure, compartmentalisation and variation in possible components could be utilised to approach a wide range of reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Nakanishi
- WestCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Geoffrey J T Cooper
- WestCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Laurie J Points
- WestCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Leanne G Bloor
- WestCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Masaaki Ohba
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Leroy Cronin
- WestCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
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Nakanishi K, Cooper GJT, Points LJ, Bloor LG, Ohba M, Cronin L. Development of a Minimal Photosystem for Hydrogen Production in Inorganic Chemical Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201805584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keita Nakanishi
- WestCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
- Department of ChemistryFaculty of SciencesKyushu University 744 Motooka Nishi-ku Fukuoka Japan
| | - Geoffrey J. T. Cooper
- WestCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Laurie J. Points
- WestCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Leanne G. Bloor
- WestCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Masaaki Ohba
- Department of ChemistryFaculty of SciencesKyushu University 744 Motooka Nishi-ku Fukuoka Japan
| | - Leroy Cronin
- WestCHEM School of ChemistryUniversity of Glasgow University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
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Kulikov V, Johnson NAB, Surman A, Hutin M, Kelly SM, Hezwani M, Long DL, Meyer G, Cronin L. Spontaner Aufbau einer organisch-anorganischen Nukleinsäure-Z-DNA-Doppelhelix-Struktur. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201606658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav Kulikov
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - Naomi A. B. Johnson
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - Andrew Surman
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - Marie Hutin
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - Sharon M. Kelly
- The University of Glasgow; Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - Mohammed Hezwani
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - De-Liang Long
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
| | - Gerd Meyer
- Universität zu Köln; Institut für Anorganische Chemie; Greinstraße 6 50939 Köln Deutschland
- Iowa State University; Department of Chemistry; Ames Iowa 50011 USA
| | - Leroy Cronin
- The University of Glasgow; WestChem; School of Chemistry; Joseph Black Building Glasgow G12 8QQ Großbritannien
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Kulikov V, Johnson NAB, Surman AJ, Hutin M, Kelly SM, Hezwani M, Long DL, Meyer G, Cronin L. Spontaneous Assembly of an Organic-Inorganic Nucleic Acid Z-DNA Double-Helix Structure. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 56:1141-1145. [PMID: 27900812 PMCID: PMC6057607 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201606658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we report a hybrid polyoxometalate organic-inorganic compound, Na2 [(HGMP)2 Mo5 O15 ]⋅7 H2 O (1; where GMP=guanosine monophosphate), which spontaneously assembles into a structure with dimensions that are strikingly similar to those of the naturally occurring left-handed Z-form of DNA. The helical parameters in the crystal structure of the new compound, such as rise per turn and helical twist per dimer, are nearly identical to this DNA conformation, allowing a close comparison of the two structures. Solution circular dichroism studies show that compound 1 also forms extended secondary structures in solution. Gel electrophoresis studies demonstrate the formation of non-covalent adducts with natural plasmids. Thus we show a route by which simple hybrid inorganic-organic monomers, such as compound 1, can spontaneously assemble into a double helix without the need for a covalently connected linear sequence of nucleic acid base pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav Kulikov
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Naomi A B Johnson
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Surman
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Marie Hutin
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Sharon M Kelly
- The University of Glasgow, Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Mohammed Hezwani
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - De-Liang Long
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Gerd Meyer
- Universität zu Köln, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Greinstrasse 6, 50939, Köln, Germany.,Iowa State University, Department of Chemistry, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Leroy Cronin
- The University of Glasgow, WestChem, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
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Barboiu M, Mouline Z, Silion M, Licsandru E, Simionescu BC, Mahon E, Pinteala M. Multivalent recognition of concanavalin A by {Mo₁₃₂ } glyconanocapsules--toward biomimetic hybrid multilayers. Chemistry 2014; 20:6678-83. [PMID: 24756773 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201402187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we consider Müller's spherical, porous, anionic, molybdenum oxide based capsule, (NH4)42[{(Mo(VI))Mo(VI)5O21(H2O)6}12{Mo(V)2O4(CH3COO)}30]⋅10 CH3COONH4⋅300 H2O≡(NH4)42⋅1 a⋅crystal ingredients≡1, {Mo132}, as an effective sugar-decorated nanoplatform for multivalent lectin recognition. The ion-exchange of NH4(+) ions of 1 with cationic-sugars, D-mannose-ammonium chloride (2) or D-glucose-ammonium chloride (3) results in the formation of glyconanocapsules (NH4)(42-n)2n⋅1 a and (NH4)(42-m)3m⋅1 a. The Mannose (NH4)(42-n)2n⋅1 a capsules bind selectively Concanavalin A (Con A) in aqueous solution, giving an association avidity constant of K(a)(multi)=4.6×10(4) M(-1) and an enhancement factor of β=K(a)(multi)/K(ass)(mono)=21.9, reminiscent of the formation of "glycoside clusters" on the external surface of glyconanocapsule. The glyconanocapsules (NH4)(42-n)2n⋅1 a and (NH4)(42-m)3m⋅1 a self-assemble in "hybrid multilayers" by successive layer-by-layer deposition of (NH4)(42-n)2n⋅1 a or (NH4)(42-m)3m⋅1 a and Con A. These architectures, reminiscent of versatile mimics of artificial tissues, can be easily prepared and quantified by using quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM). The "biomimetic hybrid multilayers" described here are stable under a continual water flow and they may serve as artificial networks for a greater depth of understanding of various biological mechanisms, which can directly benefit the fields of chemical separations, sensors or storage-delivery devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihail Barboiu
- Adaptive Supramolecular Nanosystems Group, Institut Européen des Membranes, ENSCM-UMII-CNRS UMR-5635, Place Eugène Bataillon, CC 047, F-34095, Montpellier (France), Fax: : (+33) 467149119.
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Müller A, Gouzerh P. Capsules with Highly Active Pores and Interiors: Versatile Platforms at the Nanoscale. Chemistry 2014; 20:4862-73. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201305010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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12
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Abstract
Synthetic life: the origin of life on the early Earth, and the ex novo transition of non-living matter to artificial living systems are deep scientific challenges that provide a context for the development of new chemistries with unknown technological consequences. This Essay attempts to re-frame some of the epistemological difficulties associated with these questions into an integrative framework of proto-life science. Chemistry is at the heart of this endeavour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Mann
- Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, UK.
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