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Rodriguez LE, Altair T, Hermis NY, Jia TZ, Roche TP, Steller LH, Weber JM. Chapter 4: A Geological and Chemical Context for the Origins of Life on Early Earth. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S76-S106. [PMID: 38498817 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0139] [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
Within the first billion years of Earth's history, the planet transformed from a hot, barren, and inhospitable landscape to an environment conducive to the emergence and persistence of life. This chapter will review the state of knowledge concerning early Earth's (Hadean/Eoarchean) geochemical environment, including the origin and composition of the planet's moon, crust, oceans, atmosphere, and organic content. It will also discuss abiotic geochemical cycling of the CHONPS elements and how these species could have been converted to biologically relevant building blocks, polymers, and chemical networks. Proposed environments for abiogenesis events are also described and evaluated. An understanding of the geochemical processes under which life may have emerged can better inform our assessment of the habitability of other worlds, the potential complexity that abiotic chemistry can achieve (which has implications for putative biosignatures), and the possibility for biochemistries that are vastly different from those on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Rodriguez
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA. (Current)
| | - Thiago Altair
- Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA. (Current)
| | - Ninos Y Hermis
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, University of Granada, Granada Spain. (Current)
| | - Tony Z Jia
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tyler P Roche
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Luke H Steller
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | - Jessica M Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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2
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Huber T, Bauer JO. A Powerful P-N Connection: Preparative Approaches, Reactivity, and Applications of P-Stereogenic Aminophosphines. Chemistry 2023:e202303760. [PMID: 38055219 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
For more than five decades, P-stereogenic aminophosphine chalcogenides and boranes have attracted scientific attention and are still in the focus of ongoing research. In the last years, novel transition metal-based synthesis methods have been discovered, in addition to the long-known use of chiral auxiliaries. Enantiomerically pure compounds with N-P+ -X- (X=O, S, BH3 ) motifs served as valuable reactive building blocks to provide new classes of organophosphorus derivatives, thereby preserving the stereochemical information at the phosphorus atom. Over the years, intriguing applications in organocatalysis and transition metal catalysis have been reported for some representatives. Asymmetric reductions of C=C, C=N, and C=O double bonds were feasible with selected P-stereogenic aminophosphine oxides in the presence of hydrogen transfer reagents. P-stereogenic aminophosphine boranes could be easily deprotected and used as ligands for various transition metals to enable catalytic asymmetric hydrogenations of olefins and imines. This review traces the emergence of a synthetically and catalytically powerful functional compound class with phosphorus-centered chirality in its main lines, starting from classical approaches to modern synthesis methods to current applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Huber
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan O Bauer
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053, Regensburg, Germany
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3
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Cruz HA, Jiménez EI, Krishnamurthy R. Enhancing Prebiotic Phosphorylation and Modulating the Regioselectivity of Nucleosides with Diamidophosphate†. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23781-23793. [PMID: 37856825 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Among the many prebiotic phosphorylation chemistries investigated, diamidophosphate (DAP) has shown promising potential for nucleoside phosphorylation. Herein, we show that DAP's phosphorylation capability is enhanced significantly (up to 90%) in wet-dry cycles by a range of prebiotically plausible pHs (6-10) and temperatures (up to 80 °C) in the presence of additives such as formamide, cyanamide, urea, guanidine, 2-aminoimidazole, and hydantoin. For ribonucleosides, the main products are the 2',3'-cyclic phosphates along with the corresponding 2'- and 3'-phosphates, while deoxyribonucleosides form 5'- and 3'-phosphates, the ratios of which are affected by cycles and the presence and nature of the additives. A simple change of temperature to 80 °C with additives leads to higher conversion yields (≈80-90%) with an increased level of 5'-phosphorylation (≈40-49%). This demonstration of enhancing and controlling the regioselectivity of DAP-mediated phosphorylation by a range of additives and conditions potentiates transitioning to the search for more efficient catalysts, enabling regiospecific phosphorylations and oligonucleotide formation in the same milieu and setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold A Cruz
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Eddy I Jiménez
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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Tran QP, Yi R, Fahrenbach AC. Towards a prebiotic chemoton - nucleotide precursor synthesis driven by the autocatalytic formose reaction. Chem Sci 2023; 14:9589-9599. [PMID: 37712016 PMCID: PMC10498504 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03185c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The formose reaction is often cited as a prebiotic source of sugars and remains one of the most plausible forms of autocatalysis on the early Earth. Herein, we investigated how cyanamide and 2-aminooxazole, molecules proposed to be present on early Earth and precursors for nonenzymatic ribonucleotide synthesis, mediate the formose reaction using HPLC, LC-MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Cyanamide was shown to delay the exponential phase of the formose reaction by reacting with formose sugars to form 2-aminooxazole and 2-aminooxazolines thereby diverting some of these sugars from the autocatalytic cycle, which nonetheless remains intact. Masses for tetrose and pentose aminooxazolines, precursors for nucleotide synthesis including TNA and RNA, were also observed. The results of this work in the context of the chemoton model are further discussed. Additionally, we highlight other prebiotically plausible molecules that could have mediated the formose reaction and alternative prebiotic autocatalytic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quoc Phuong Tran
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Ruiqin Yi
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology Tokyo 152-8550 Japan
| | - Albert C Fahrenbach
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
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Guo X, Fu S, Ying J, Zhao Y. Prebiotic chemistry: a review of nucleoside phosphorylation and polymerization. Open Biol 2023; 13:220234. [PMID: 36629018 PMCID: PMC9832566 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphorylation of nucleosides and their polymerization are crucial issues concerning the origin of life. The question of how these plausible chemical processes took place in the prebiotic Earth is still perplexing, despite several studies that have attempted to explain these prebiotic processes. The purpose of this article is to review these chemical reactions with respect to chemical evolution in the primeval Earth. Meanwhile, from our perspective, the chiral properties and selection of biomolecules should be considered in the prebiotic chemical origin of life, which may contribute to further research in this field to some extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Guo
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Songsen Fu
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxi Ying
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufen Zhao
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, People's Republic of China
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Gan D, Ying J, Zhao Y. Prebiotic Chemistry: The Role of Trimetaphosphate in Prebiotic Chemical Evolution. Front Chem 2022; 10:941228. [PMID: 35910738 PMCID: PMC9326000 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.941228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Life’s origins have always been a scientific puzzle. Understanding the production of biomolecules is crucial for understanding the evolution of life on Earth. Numerous studies on trimetaphosphate have been conducted in the field of prebiotic chemistry. However, its role in prebiotic chemistry has been documented infrequently in the review literature. The goal of this thesis is to review the role of trimetaphosphate in the early Earth’s biomolecule synthesis and phosphorylation. Additionally, various trimetaphosphate-mediated reaction pathways are discussed, as well as the role of trimetaphosphate in prebiotic chemistry. Finally, in our opinion, interactions between biomolecules should be considered in prebiotic synthesis scenarios since this may result in some advances in subsequent research on this subject. The research establishes an essential and opportune foundation for an in-depth examination of the “mystery of life".
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingwei Gan
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Qian Xuesen Collaborative Research Center of Astrochemistry and Space Life Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jianxi Ying
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Qian Xuesen Collaborative Research Center of Astrochemistry and Space Life Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- *Correspondence: Jianxi Ying,
| | - Yufen Zhao
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Qian Xuesen Collaborative Research Center of Astrochemistry and Space Life Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Sahai N, Adebayo S, Schoonen MA. Freshwater and Evaporite Brine Compositions on Hadean Earth: Priming the Origins of Life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:641-671. [PMID: 35447041 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The chemical composition of aqueous solutions during the Hadean era determined the availability of essential elements for prebiotic synthesis of the molecular building blocks of life. Here we conducted quantitative reaction path modeling of atmosphere-water-rock interactions over a range of environmental conditions to estimate freshwater and evaporite brine compositions. We then evaluated the solution chemistries for their potential to influence ribonucleotide synthesis and polymerization as well as protocell membrane stability. Specifically, solutions formed by komatiite and tonalite (primitive crustal rocks) weathering and evaporation-rehydration (drying-wetting) cycles were studied assuming neutral atmospheric composition over a wide range of values of atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) and temperatures (T). Solution pH decreased and total dissolved concentrations of inorganic P, Mg, Ca, Fe, and C (PT, MgT, CaT, FeT, and CT) increased with increasing PCO2. The PCO2 and T dictated how the solution evolved with regard to minerals precipitated and ions left in solution. At T = 75°C and PCO2 < 0.05 atm, the concentration ratio of magnesium to calcium ion concentrations (Mg2+/Ca2+) was < 1 and predominantly metal aluminosilicates (including clays), dolomite, gibbsite, and pyrite (FeS2) precipitated, whereas at PCO2 > 0.05 atm, Mg2+/Ca2+ was > 1 and mainly magnesite, dolomite, pyrite, chalcedony (SiO2), and kaolinite (Al2Si2O5) precipitated. At T = 75°C and PCO2 > 0.05 atm, hydroxyapatite (HAP) precipitated during weathering but not during evaporation, and so, PT increased with each evaporation-rehydration cycle, while MgT, CaT, and FeT decreased as other minerals precipitated. At T = 75°C and PCO2 ∼5 atm, reactions with komatiite provided end-of-weathering solutions with high enough Mg2+ concentrations to promote RNA-template directed and montmorillonite-promoted nonenzymatic RNA polymerization, but incompatible with protocell membranes; however, montmorillonite-promoted RNA polymerization could proceed with little or no Mg2+ present. Cyclically evaporating/rehydrating brines from komatiite weathering at T = 75°C and PCO2 ∼5 atm yielded the following: (1) high PT values that could promote ribonucleotide synthesis, and (2) low divalent cation concentrations compatible with amino acid-promoted, montmorillonite-catalyzed RNA polymerization and with protocell membranes, but too low for template-directed nonenzymatic RNA polymerization. For all PCO2 values, Mg2+ and PT concentrations decreased, whereas the HCO3- concentration increased within increasing temperature, due to the retrograde solubility of the minerals controlling these ions' concentrations; Fe2+ concentration increased because of prograde pyrite solubility. Tonalite weathering and cyclical wetting-drying reactions did not produce solution compositions favorable for promoting prebiotic RNA formation. Conversely, the ion concentrations compatible with protocell emergence, placed constraints on PCO2 of early Earth's atmosphere. In summary: (1) prebiotic RNA synthesis and membrane self-assembly could have been achieved even under neutral atmosphere conditions by atmosphere-water-komatiite rock interactions; and (2) constraints on element availability for the origins of life and early PCO2 were addressed by a single, globally operating mechanism of atmosphere-water-rock interactions without invoking special microenvironments. The present results support a facile origins-of-life hypothesis even under a neutral atmosphere as long as other favorable geophysical and planetary conditions are also met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nita Sahai
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA
- Department of Geoscience, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA
- Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Segun Adebayo
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering and University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Martin A Schoonen
- Environmental and Climate Sciences Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA
- Department of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Fiore M, Chieffo C, Lopez A, Fayolle D, Ruiz J, Soulère L, Oger P, Altamura E, Popowycz F, Buchet R. Synthesis of Phospholipids Under Plausible Prebiotic Conditions and Analogies with Phospholipid Biochemistry for Origin of Life Studies. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:598-627. [PMID: 35196460 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipids are essential components of biological membranes and are involved in cell signalization, in several enzymatic reactions, and in energy metabolism. In addition, phospholipids represent an evolutionary and non-negligible step in life emergence. Progress in the past decades has led to a deeper understanding of these unique hydrophobic molecules and their most pertinent functions in cell biology. Today, a growing interest in "prebiotic lipidomics" calls for a new assessment of these relevant biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Fiore
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Carolina Chieffo
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Augustin Lopez
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Dimitri Fayolle
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Johal Ruiz
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurent Soulère
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Philippe Oger
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Université de Lyon, Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Emiliano Altamura
- Chemistry Department, Università degli studi di Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Florence Popowycz
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - René Buchet
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
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Lin H, Jiménez EI, Arriola JT, Müller UF, Krishnamurthy R. Concurrent Prebiotic Formation of Nucleoside‐Amidophosphates and Nucleoside‐Triphosphates Potentiates Transition from Abiotic to Biotic Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202113625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Huacan Lin
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Eddy I. Jiménez
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Joshua T. Arriola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Ulrich F. Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Atlanta GA 30332 USA
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Lin H, Jiménez EI, Arriola JT, Müller UF, Krishnamurthy R. Concurrent Prebiotic Formation of Nucleoside-Amidophosphates and Nucleoside-Triphosphates Potentiates Transition from Abiotic to Biotic Polymerization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 61:e202113625. [PMID: 34738300 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202113625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Polymerization of nucleic acids in biology utilizes 5'-nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) as substrates. The prebiotic availability of NTPs has been unresolved and other derivatives of nucleoside-monophosphates (NMPs) have been studied. However, this latter approach necessitates a change in chemistries when transitioning to biology. Herein we show that diamidophosphate (DAP), in a one-pot amidophosphorylation-hydrolysis setting converts NMPs into the corresponding NTPs via 5'-nucleoside amidophosphates (NaPs). The resulting crude mixture of NTPs are accepted by proteinaceous- and ribozyme-polymerases as substrates for nucleic acid polymerization. This phosphorylation also operates at the level of oligonucleotides enabling ribozyme-mediated ligation. This one-pot protocol for simultaneous generation of NaPs and NTPs suggests that the transition from prebiotic-phosphorylation and oligomerization to an enzymatic processive-polymerization can be more continuous than previously anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huacan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Eddy I Jiménez
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Joshua T Arriola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ulrich F Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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Osumah A, Krishnamurthy R. Diamidophosphate (DAP): A Plausible Prebiotic Phosphorylating Reagent with a Chem to BioChem Potential? Chembiochem 2021; 22:3001-3009. [PMID: 34289217 PMCID: PMC8589086 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Known since the 1890s, diamidophosphate (DAP) has been investigated within the context of its inorganic chemistry. In 1999 - with the demonstration of DAP's potential as a phosphorylating agent of sugars in aqueous medium - began the exciting phase of research about DAP's role as a plausible prebiotic phosphorylating agent. More recently, in the last five years, there has been a steady increase in the publications that have documented the surprising versatility of DAP enabling the emergence of many classes of biomolecules of life, such as nucleic acids, peptides and protocells. Thus, though in its infancy, DAP seems to be uniquely positioned to play a central role in modelling abiotic- to prebiotic-chemical evolution. In this context, there is a need for systematic investigations for: (a) establishing DAP's likely availability on the early Earth, and (b) developing DAP's potential as a tool for use in synthetic and bioorganic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulakeem Osumah
- Department of ChemistryThe Scripps Research Institute10550 North Torrey Pines RdLa JollaCA 92037USA
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Carbamoyl phosphate and its substitutes for the uracil synthesis in origins of life scenarios. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19356. [PMID: 34588537 PMCID: PMC8481487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98747-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The first step of pyrimidine synthesis along the orotate pathway is studied to test the hypothesis of geochemical continuity of protometabolic pathways at the origins of life. Carbamoyl phosphate (CP) is the first high-energy building block that intervenes in the in vivo synthesis of the uracil ring of UMP. Thus, the likelihood of its occurrence in prebiotic conditions is investigated herein. The evolution of carbamoyl phosphate in water and in ammonia aqueous solutions without enzymes was characterised using ATR-IR, 31P and 13C spectroscopies. Carbamoyl phosphate initially appears stable in water at ambient conditions before transforming to cyanate and carbamate/hydrogenocarbonate species within a matter of hours. Cyanate, less labile than CP, remains a potential carbamoylating agent. In the presence of ammonia, CP decomposition occurs more rapidly and generates urea. We conclude that CP is not a likely prebiotic reagent by itself. Alternatively, cyanate and urea may be more promising substitutes for CP, because they are both “energy-rich” (high free enthalpy molecules in aqueous solutions) and kinetically inert regarding hydrolysis. Energy-rich inorganic molecules such as trimetaphosphate or phosphoramidates were also explored for their suitability as sources of carbamoyl phosphate. Although these species did not generate CP or other carbamoylating agents, they exhibited energy transduction, specifically the formation of high-energy P–N bonds. Future efforts should aim to evaluate the role of carbamoylating agents in aspartate carbamoylation, which is the following reaction in the orotate pathway.
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Maguire OR, Smokers IBA, Huck WTS. A physicochemical orthophosphate cycle via a kinetically stable thermodynamically activated intermediate enables mild prebiotic phosphorylations. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5517. [PMID: 34535651 PMCID: PMC8448844 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25555-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The incorporation of orthophosphate from scarce geochemical sources into the organic compounds essential for life under mild conditions is a fundamental challenge for prebiotic chemistry. Here we report a prebiotic system capable of overcoming this challenge by taking inspiration from extant life's recycling of orthophosphate via its conversion into kinetically stable thermodynamically activated (KSTA) nucleotide triphosphates (e.g. ATP). We separate the activation of orthophosphate from its transfer to organic compounds by, crucially, first accumulating a KSTA phosphoramidate. We use cyanate to activate orthophosphate in aqueous solution under mild conditions and then react it with imidazole to accumulate the KSTA imidazole phosphate. In a paste, imidazole phosphate phosphorylates all the essential building blocks of life. Integration of this chemistry into a wet/dry cycle enables the continuous recycling of orthophosphate and the accretion of phosphorylated compounds. This system functions even at low reagent concentrations due to solutes concentrating during evaporation. Our system demonstrates a general strategy for how to maximise the usage of scarce resources based upon cycles which accumulate and then release activated intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver R Maguire
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Iris B A Smokers
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T S Huck
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525, AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Clark BC, Kolb VM, Steele A, House CH, Lanza NL, Gasda PJ, VanBommel SJ, Newsom HE, Martínez-Frías J. Origin of Life on Mars: Suitability and Opportunities. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:539. [PMID: 34207658 PMCID: PMC8227854 DOI: 10.3390/life11060539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the habitability of early Mars is now well established, its suitability for conditions favorable to an independent origin of life (OoL) has been less certain. With continued exploration, evidence has mounted for a widespread diversity of physical and chemical conditions on Mars that mimic those variously hypothesized as settings in which life first arose on Earth. Mars has also provided water, energy sources, CHNOPS elements, critical catalytic transition metal elements, as well as B, Mg, Ca, Na and K, all of which are elements associated with life as we know it. With its highly favorable sulfur abundance and land/ocean ratio, early wet Mars remains a prime candidate for its own OoL, in many respects superior to Earth. The relatively well-preserved ancient surface of planet Mars helps inform the range of possible analogous conditions during the now-obliterated history of early Earth. Continued exploration of Mars also contributes to the understanding of the opportunities for settings enabling an OoL on exoplanets. Favoring geochemical sediment samples for eventual return to Earth will enhance assessments of the likelihood of a Martian OoL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vera M. Kolb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin—Parkside, Kenosha, WI 53141, USA;
| | - Andrew Steele
- Earth and Planetary Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC 20015, USA;
| | - Christopher H. House
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16807, USA;
| | - Nina L. Lanza
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; (N.L.L.); (P.J.G.)
| | - Patrick J. Gasda
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; (N.L.L.); (P.J.G.)
| | - Scott J. VanBommel
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA;
| | - Horton E. Newsom
- Institute of Meteoritics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 88033, USA;
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15
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Franco A, da Silva JAL. Boron in Prebiological Evolution. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10458-10468. [PMID: 32997879 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Boron(III), as borate (or boric acid), mediates the synthesis of ribose, ribonucleosides, and ribonucleotides. These reactions are carried out under moderate temperatures (typically 70-95 °C) with organic molecules (or their derivatives) detected in interstellar space and inorganic ions found in minerals on Earth (and could occur during early stages of prebiotic evolution). Research in this century suggests that borate was a relevant prebiological reagent, thus reinforcing the RNA world hypothesis as an explanation for the origin of life. Herein, these developments on prebiological chemistry related to boron species are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Franco
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Armando L da Silva
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Franco
- Centro de Química Estrutural Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisbon Portugal
| | - José Armando L. Silva
- Centro de Química Estrutural Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisbon Portugal
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17
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Jiménez EI, Gibard C, Krishnamurthy R. Prebiotic Phosphorylation and Concomitant Oligomerization of Deoxynucleosides to form DNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202015910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eddy I. Jiménez
- The Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Clémentine Gibard
- The Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- The Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
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18
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Jiménez EI, Gibard C, Krishnamurthy R. Prebiotic Phosphorylation and Concomitant Oligomerization of Deoxynucleosides to form DNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10775-10783. [PMID: 33325148 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202015910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent demonstrations of RNA-DNA chimeras (RDNA) enabling RNA and DNA replication, coupled with prebiotic co-synthesis of deoxyribo- and ribo-nucleotides, have resurrected the hypothesis of co-emergence of RNA and DNA. As further support, we show that diamidophosphate (DAP) with 2-aminoimidazole (amido)phosphorylates and oligomerizes deoxynucleosides to form DNA-under conditions similar to those of ribonucleosides. The pyrimidine deoxynucleoside 5'-O-amidophosphates are formed in good (≈60 %) yields. Intriguingly, the presence of pyrimidine deoxynucleos(t)ides increased the yields of purine deoxynucleotides (≈20 %). Concomitantly, oligomerization (≈18-31 %) is observed with predominantly 3',5'-phosphodiester DNA linkages, and some (<5 %) pyrophosphates. Combined with previous observations of DAP-mediated chemistries and the constructive role of RDNA chimeras, the results reported here help set the stage for systematic investigation of a systems chemistry approach of RNA-DNA coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddy I Jiménez
- The Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Clémentine Gibard
- The Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- The Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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19
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Kim HJ, Benner SA. Abiotic Synthesis of Nucleoside 5'-Triphosphates with Nickel Borate and Cyclic Trimetaphosphate (CTMP). ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:298-306. [PMID: 33533695 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
While nucleoside 5'-triphosphates are precursors for RNA in modern biology, the presumed difficulty of making these triphosphates on Hadean Earth has caused many prebiotic researchers to consider other activated species for the prebiotic synthesis of RNA. We report here that nickel(II), in the presence of borate, gives substantial amounts (2-3%) of nucleoside 5'-triphosphates upon evaporative heating in the presence of urea, salts, and cyclic trimetaphosphate (CTMP). Also recovered are nucleoside 5'-diphosphates and nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, both likely arising from 5'-triphosphate intermediates. The total level of 5'-phosphorylation is typically 30%. Borate enhances the regiospecificity of phosphorylation, with increased amounts of other phosphorylated species seen in its absence. Experimentally supported paths are already available to make nucleosides in environments likely to have been present on Hadean Earth soon after a midsized 1021 to 1023 kg impactor, which would also have delivered nickel to the Hadean surface. Further, sources of prebiotic CTMP continue to be proposed. Thus, these results fill in one of the few remaining steps needed to demystify the prebiotic synthesis of RNA and support a continuous model from atmospheric components to oligomeric RNA that is lacking only a mechanism to obtain homochirality in the product RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Joong Kim
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution and Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, Alachua, Florida, USA
| | - Steven A Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution and Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, Alachua, Florida, USA
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20
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Song EY, Jiménez EI, Lin H, Le Vay K, Krishnamurthy R, Mutschler H. Prebiotically Plausible RNA Activation Compatible with Ribozyme-Catalyzed Ligation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:2952-2957. [PMID: 33128282 PMCID: PMC7898671 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202010918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
RNA-catalyzed RNA ligation is widely believed to be a key reaction for primordial biology. However, since typical chemical routes towards activating RNA substrates are incompatible with ribozyme catalysis, it remains unclear how prebiotic systems generated and sustained pools of activated building blocks needed to form increasingly larger and complex RNA. Herein, we demonstrate in situ activation of RNA substrates under reaction conditions amenable to catalysis by the hairpin ribozyme. We found that diamidophosphate (DAP) and imidazole drive the formation of 2',3'-cyclic phosphate RNA mono- and oligonucleotides from monophosphorylated precursors in frozen water-ice. This long-lived activation enables iterative enzymatic assembly of long RNAs. Our results provide a plausible scenario for the generation of higher-energy substrates required to fuel ribozyme-catalyzed RNA synthesis in the absence of a highly evolved metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Yeonwha Song
- Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
| | - Eddy Ivanhoe Jiménez
- Department of ChemistryThe Scripps Research Institute10550 North Torrey Pines RoadLa JollaCA92037USA
| | - Huacan Lin
- Department of ChemistryThe Scripps Research Institute10550 North Torrey Pines RoadLa JollaCA92037USA
| | - Kristian Le Vay
- Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
| | | | - Hannes Mutschler
- Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
- Technical University DortmundOtto-Hahn-Strasse 4a44227DortmundGermany
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21
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Fontecilla-Camps JC. Primordial bioenergy sources: The two facets of adenosine triphosphate. J Inorg Biochem 2020; 216:111347. [PMID: 33450675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2020.111347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Life requires energy to exist, to reproduce and to survive. Two major hypotheses have been put forward concerning the source of this energy at the very early stages of life evolution: (i) abiotic organics either brought to Earth by comets and/or meteorites, or produced at its atmosphere, and (ii) mineral surface-dependent bioinorganic catalytic reactions. Considering the latter possibility, I propose that, besides being a precursor of nucleic acids, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which probably was used very early to improve the fidelity of nucleic acid polymerization, played an essential role in the transition between mineral-bound protocells and their free counterparts. Indeed, phosphorylation by ATP renders carboxylate groups electrophilic enough to react with nucleophiles such as amines, an effect that, thanks to their Lewis acid character, also have dehydrated metal ions on mineral surfaces. Early ATP synthesis for metabolic processes most likely depended on substrate level phosphorylation. However, the exaptation of a hexameric helicase-like ATPase and a transmembrane H+ pump (which evolved to counteract the acidity caused by fermentation reactions within the protocell) generated a much more efficient membrane-bound ATP synthase that uses chemiosmosis to make ATP.
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22
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Song EY, Jiménez EI, Lin H, Le Vay K, Krishnamurthy R, Mutschler H. Präbiotisch plausible RNA‐Aktivierung kompatibel mit ribozymkatalysierter Ligation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202010918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Yeonwha Song
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Deutschland
| | - Eddy Ivanhoe Jiménez
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Huacan Lin
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla CA 92037 USA
| | - Kristian Le Vay
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Deutschland
| | | | - Hannes Mutschler
- Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Deutschland
- TU Dortmund University Otto-Hahn-Straße 4a 44227 Dortmund Deutschland
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23
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Kovalenko SP. Physicochemical Processes That Probably Originated Life. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162020040093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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24
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Parker ET, Karki M, Glavin DP, Dworkin JP, Krishnamurthy R. A sensitive quantitative analysis of abiotically synthesized short homopeptides using ultraperformance liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2020; 1630:461509. [PMID: 32927393 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2020.461509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In the origins of life field understanding the abiotic polymerization of simple organic monomers (e.g., amino acids) into larger biomolecules (e.g., oligopeptides), remains a seminal challenge. Recently, preliminary observations showed a limited set of peptides formed in the presence of the plausible prebiotic phosphorylating agent, diamidophosphate (DAP), highlighting the need for an analytical tool to critically evaluate the ability of DAP to induce oligomerization of simple organics under aqueous conditions. However, performing accurate and precise, targeted analyses of short oligopeptides remains a distinct challenge in the analytical chemistry field. Here, we developed a new technique to detect and quantitate amino acids and their homopeptides in a single run using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection/time of flight mass spectrometry. Over an 8-minute retention time window, 18 target analytes were identified and quantitated, 16 of which were chromatographically separated at, or near baseline resolution. Compound identity was confirmed by accurate mass analysis using a 10 ppm mass tolerance window. This method featured limits of detection < 5 nM (< 1 fmol on column) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) <15 nM (< 3 fmol on column). The LODs and LOQs were upwards of ∼28x and ∼788x lower, respectively, than previous methods for the same analytes, highlighting the quantifiable advantages of this new method. Both detectors provided good quantitative linearity (R2 > 0.985) for all analytes spanning concentration ranges ∼3 - 4 orders of magnitude. We performed a series of laboratory experiments to investigate DAP-mediated oligomerization of amino acids and peptides and analyzed experimental products with the new method. DAP readily polymerized amino acids and peptides under a range of simulated environmental conditions. This research underscores the potential of DAP to have generated oligopeptides on the primordial Earth, enhancing prebiotic chemical diversity and complexity at or near the origin of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T Parker
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
| | - Megha Karki
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Daniel P Glavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
| | - Jason P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States.
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States.
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25
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Gull M, Omran A, Feng T, Pasek MA. Silicate-, Magnesium Ion-, and Urea-Induced Prebiotic Phosphorylation of Uridine via Pyrophosphate; Revisiting the Hot Drying Water Pool Scenario. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10080122. [PMID: 32722517 PMCID: PMC7459484 DOI: 10.3390/life10080122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of nucleotides on the early Earth is of great significance for the origin of a self-replicating system capable of undergoing evolution. We hereby report the successful phosphorylation reactions of the nucleoside uridine under heating in the "drying pool" prebiotic model at temperatures ranging from 60-75 °C, and by using pyrophosphate as a phosphorylation agent. Uridine monophosphates (UMP) such as uridine-5'-monophosphate (5'-UMP), 2'-UMP, and 3'-UMP, as well as cyclic 2'-3'-UMP, were identified by 31P-NMR. In addition to the above-mentioned products, a dimer of uridine-phosphate-uridine (U-P-U) was also observed. The reactions were promoted by white quartz sand, Mg2+, and by using urea as a condensation agent. The reactions also proceeded without this mixture; however, the yields increased remarkably with the presence of the above-mentioned materials. The results suggest that a hot/evaporating-drying pool of water containing organics, salts, and reactive phosphorus could be sufficient to form significant phosphate esters.
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26
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Toparlak ÖD, Karki M, Egas Ortuno V, Krishnamurthy R, Mansy SS. Cyclophospholipids Increase Protocellular Stability to Metal Ions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903381. [PMID: 31523894 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Model protocells have long been constructed with fatty acids, because these lipids are prebiotically plausible and can, at least theoretically, support a protocell life cycle. However, fatty acid protocells are stable only within a narrow range of pH and metal ion concentration. This instability is particularly problematic as the early Earth would have had a range of conditions, and extant life is completely reliant on metal ions for catalysis and the folding and activity of biological polymers. Here, prebiotically plausible monoacyl cyclophospholipids are shown to form robust vesicles that survive a broad range of pH and high concentrations of Mg2+ , Ca2+ , and Na+ . Importantly, stability to Mg2+ and Ca2+ is improved by the presence of environmental concentrations of Na+ . These results suggest that cyclophospholipids, or lipids with similar characteristics, may have played a central role during the emergence of Darwinian evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ö Duhan Toparlak
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123, Povo, Italy
| | - Megha Karki
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Veronica Egas Ortuno
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sheref S Mansy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123, Povo, Italy
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27
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Ritson DJ, Mojzsis SJ, Sutherland JD. Supply of phosphate to early Earth by photogeochemistry after meteoritic weathering. NATURE GEOSCIENCE 2020; 13:344-348. [PMID: 32395178 PMCID: PMC7213494 DOI: 10.1038/s41561-020-0556-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
During terrestrial differentiation, the relatively small amount of phosphorus that migrated to the lithosphere was incorporated into igneous rock, predominantly in the form of basic calcium orthophosphate (Ca10(PO4)6(OH,F,Cl)2, apatite). Yet, the highly insoluble nature of calcium apatite presents a significant problem to those contemplating the origin of life given the foundational role of phosphate (PO4 3-) in extant biology and the apparent requirement for PO4 3- as a catalyst, buffer and reagent in prebiotic chemistry. Reduced meteorites such as enstatite chondrites are highly enriched in phosphide minerals, and upon reaction with water these minerals can release phosphorus species of various oxidation states. Here, we demonstrate how reduced phosphorus species can be fully oxidized to PO4 3- simply by the action of ultraviolet light on H2S/HS-. We used low pressure Hg lamps to simulate UV output from the young Sun and 31P NMR spectroscopy to monitor the progress of reactions. Our experimental findings provide a cosmochemically and geochemically plausible means for supply of PO4 3- that was widely available to prebiotic chemistry and nascent life on early Earth, and potentially on other planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dougal J. Ritson
- MRC – Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, U.K
| | - Stephen J. Mojzsis
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, UCB 399, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO 80309-0399, USA
- Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 45 Budaörsi Street, H-1112 Budapest, Hungary
| | - John. D. Sutherland
- MRC – Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, U.K
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28
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Abstract
The chemistry of abiotic nucleotide synthesis of RNA and DNA in the context of their prebiotic origins on early earth is a continuing challenge. How did (or how can) the nucleotides form and assemble from the small molecule inventories and under conditions that prevailed on early earth 3.5-4 billion years ago? This review provides a background and up-to-date progress that will allow the reader to judge where the field stands currently and what remains to be achieved. We start with a brief primer on the biological synthesis of nucleotides, followed by an extensive focus on the prebiotic formation of the components of nucleotides-either via the synthesis of ribose and the canonical nucleobases and then joining them together or by building both the conjoined sugar and nucleobase, part-by-part-toward the ultimate goal of forming RNA and DNA by polymerization. The review will emphasize that there are-and will continue to be-many more questions than answers from the synthetic, mechanistic, and analytical perspectives. We wrap up the review with a cautionary note in this context about coming to conclusions as to whether the problem of chemistry of prebiotic nucleotide synthesis has been solved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahipal Yadav
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ravi Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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29
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Franco A, Ascenso JR, Ilharco L, Silva JALD. Synthesis of ribonucleotides from the corresponding ribonucleosides under plausible prebiotic conditions within self-assembled supramolecular structures. NEW J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/c9nj05601g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abiotic synthesis of ribonucleotides, mainly at the 5′ position, from the corresponding ribonucleosides within guanosine:borate hydrogels in the temperature range of 70–90 °C, using urea and a phosphate source (K2HPO4 or hydroxyapatite).
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Franco
- Centro de Química Estrutural
- Instituto Superior Técnico
- Universidade de Lisboa
- 1049-001 Lisboa
- Portugal
| | - J. R. Ascenso
- Centro de Química Estrutural
- Instituto Superior Técnico
- Universidade de Lisboa
- 1049-001 Lisboa
- Portugal
| | - L. Ilharco
- IBB
- Instituto de Bioengenharia e Biociências
- Instituto Superior Técnico
- Universidade de Lisboa
- 1049-001 Lisboa
| | - J. A. L. da Silva
- Centro de Química Estrutural
- Instituto Superior Técnico
- Universidade de Lisboa
- 1049-001 Lisboa
- Portugal
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30
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The evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases: From dawn to LUCA. BIOLOGY OF AMINOACYL-TRNA SYNTHETASES 2020; 48:11-37. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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31
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Burcar B, Castañeda A, Lago J, Daniel M, Pasek MA, Hud NV, Orlando TM, Menor‐Salván C. A Stark Contrast to Modern Earth: Phosphate Mineral Transformation and Nucleoside Phosphorylation in an Iron‐ and Cyanide‐Rich Early Earth Scenario. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201908272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Burcar
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - Alma Castañeda
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - Jennifer Lago
- School of Geosciences University of South Florida, Tampa Tampa FL 33620 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - Mischael Daniel
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - Matthew A. Pasek
- School of Geosciences University of South Florida, Tampa Tampa FL 33620 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - Nicholas V. Hud
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - Thomas M. Orlando
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
| | - César Menor‐Salván
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 33000 USA
- Dep. de Biología de Sistemas-Instituto de Investigación Química Andrés del Río (IQAR) Universidad de Alcalá 28805 Alcalá de Henares Spain
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Burcar B, Castañeda A, Lago J, Daniel M, Pasek MA, Hud NV, Orlando TM, Menor-Salván C. A Stark Contrast to Modern Earth: Phosphate Mineral Transformation and Nucleoside Phosphorylation in an Iron- and Cyanide-Rich Early Earth Scenario. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:16981-16987. [PMID: 31460687 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201908272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Organophosphates were likely an important class of prebiotic molecules. However, their presence on the early Earth is strongly debated because the low availability of phosphate, which is generally assumed to have been sequestered in insoluble calcium and iron minerals, is widely viewed as a major barrier to organophosphate generation. Herein, we demonstrate that cyanide (an essential prebiotic precursor) and urea-based solvents could promote nucleoside phosphorylation by transforming insoluble phosphate minerals in a "warm little pond" scenario into more soluble and reactive species. Our results suggest that cyanide and its derivatives (metal cyanide complexes, urea, ammonium formate, and formamide) were key reagents for the participation of phosphorus in chemical evolution. These results allow us to propose a holistic scenario in which an evaporitic environment could concentrate abiotically formed organics and transform the underlying minerals, allowing significant organic phosphorylation under plausible prebiotic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Burcar
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - Alma Castañeda
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - Jennifer Lago
- School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - Mischael Daniel
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - Matthew A Pasek
- School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - Nicholas V Hud
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - Thomas M Orlando
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA.,NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA
| | - César Menor-Salván
- NSF-NASA Center for Chemical Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 33000, USA.,Dep. de Biología de Sistemas-Instituto de Investigación Química Andrés del Río (IQAR), Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
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33
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Prebiotic Phosphorylation of Uridine using Diamidophosphate in Aerosols. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13527. [PMID: 31537885 PMCID: PMC6753121 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49947-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most challenging fundamental problems in establishing prebiotically plausible routes for phosphorylation reactions using phosphate is that they are thermodynamically unfavorable in aqueous conditions. Diamidophosphate (DAP), a potentially prebiotically relevant compound, was shown to phosphorylate nucleosides in aqueous medium, albeit at a very slow rate (days/weeks). Here, we demonstrate that performing these reactions within an aerosol environment, a suitable model for the early Earth ocean-air interface, yields higher reaction rates when compared to bulk solution, thus overcoming these rate limitations. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the effective conversion (~6.5–10%) of uridine to uridine-2′,3′-cyclophosphate in less than 1 h. These results suggest that aerosol environments are a possible scenario in which prebiotic phosphorylation could have occurred despite unfavorable rates in bulk solution.
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