1
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Ziurys LM. Prebiotic Astrochemistry from Astronomical Observations and Laboratory Spectroscopy. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2024; 75:307-327. [PMID: 38382568 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-090722-010849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of more than 200 gas-phase chemical compounds in interstellar space has led to the speculation that this nonterrestrial synthesis may play a role in the origin of life. These identifications were possible because of laboratory spectroscopy, which provides the molecular fingerprints for astronomical observations. Interstellar chemistry produces a wide range of small, organic molecules in dense clouds, such as NH2COCH3, CH3OCH3, CH3COOCH3, and CH2(OH)CHO. Carbon (C) is also carried in the fullerenes C60 and C70, which can preserve C-C bonds from circumstellar environments for future synthesis. Elusive phosphorus has now been found in molecular clouds, the sites of star formation, in the molecules PO and PN. Such clouds can collapse into solar systems, although the chemical/physical processing of the emerging planetary disk is uncertain. The presence of molecule-rich interstellar starting material, as well as the link to planetary bodies such as meteorites and comets, suggests that astrochemical processes set a prebiotic foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy M Ziurys
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Astronomy, and Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA;
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2
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de Prinse T, Klantsataya E, Tsiminis G, Payten T, Moffatt J, Kee TW, Spooner NA. Multiphoton Phosphorescence of Simple Ketones by Visible-light Excitation and Its Consideration for Active Sensing in Space. J Fluoresc 2022; 32:1051-1057. [PMID: 35298738 PMCID: PMC9095556 DOI: 10.1007/s10895-022-02912-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Acetone and butanone were seen to emit blue light around 450 nm when excited in the green by a high intensity pulsed laser. The pathway of this anti-Stokes emission is believed to be multiphoton absorption followed by phosphorescence, with emission being observed in the samples at cryogenic temperatures below their melting point and not seen from either ketone in their cold liquid state. Given the widespread nature of these simple ketones in off-world bodies and their potential importance as an organic resource for Space Resource Utilization, signals which enable the identification and tracing of these materials are of use in applications from remote sensing and mapping to monitoring during extraction processes. While the excitation process has a low efficiency, the ability to use visible light for sensing of these targets has advantages over UV sources, such as the wider availability of high-powered lasers which could be utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas de Prinse
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Elizaveta Klantsataya
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Georgios Tsiminis
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Thomas Payten
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jillian Moffatt
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Tak W Kee
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nigel A Spooner
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Edinburgh, Australia
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3
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Giese CC, ten Kate IL, van den Ende MPA, Wolthers M, Aponte JC, Camprubi E, Dworkin JP, Elsila JE, Hangx S, King HE, Mclain HL, Plümper O, Tielens AGG. Experimental and Theoretical Constraints on Amino Acid Formation from PAHs in Asteroidal Settings. ACS EARTH & SPACE CHEMISTRY 2022; 6:468-481. [PMID: 35330631 PMCID: PMC8935471 DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.1c00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) belong to the range of organic compounds detected in meteorites. In this study, we tested empirically and theoretically if PAHs are precursors for amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites, as previously suggested. We conducted experiments to synthesize amino acids from fluoranthene (PAH), with ammonium bicarbonate as a source for ammonia and carbon dioxide under mimicked asteroidal conditions. In our thermodynamic calculations, we extended our analysis to additional PAH-amino acid combinations. We explored 36 reactions involving the PAHs naphthalene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, triphenylene, and coronene and the amino acids glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. Our experiments do not show the formation of amino acids, whereas our theoretical results hint that PAHs could be precursors of amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites at low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia-Corina Giese
- Leiden
Observatory, Faculty of Science, Leiden
University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Inge Loes ten Kate
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mariette Wolthers
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - José C. Aponte
- Solar
System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
- Department
of Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington D. C. 20064, United States
- Center for
Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - Eloi Camprubi
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jason P. Dworkin
- Solar
System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - Jamie E. Elsila
- Solar
System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - Suzanne Hangx
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Helen E. King
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah L. Mclain
- Solar
System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
- Department
of Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington D. C. 20064, United States
- Center for
Research and Exploration in Space Science and Technology, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - Oliver Plümper
- Department
of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
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4
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Tandon R, Tandon N, Patil SM. Overview on magnetically recyclable ferrite nanoparticles: synthesis and their applications in coupling and multicomponent reactions. RSC Adv 2021; 11:29333-29353. [PMID: 35479579 PMCID: PMC9040805 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra03874e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanocatalysis is an emerging area of research that has attracted much attention over the past few years. It provides the advantages of both homogeneous as well as heterogeneous catalysis in terms of activity, selectivity, efficiency and reusability. Magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts provide a larger surface area for the chemical transformations where the organic groups can be anchored and lead to decrease in the reaction time, increase in the reaction output and improve the atom economy of the chemical reactions. Moreover, magnetic nanocatalysts provide a greener approach towards the chemical transformations and are easily recoverable by the aid of an external magnet for their reusability. This review aims to give an insight into the important work done in the field of magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts and their applications in carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runjhun Tandon
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Physical Sciences, Lovely Professional University Phagwara-144411 India
| | - Nitin Tandon
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Physical Sciences, Lovely Professional University Phagwara-144411 India
| | - Shripad M Patil
- Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Physical Sciences, Lovely Professional University Phagwara-144411 India
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5
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Glavin DP, Burton AS, Elsila JE, Aponte JC, Dworkin JP. The Search for Chiral Asymmetry as a Potential Biosignature in our Solar System. Chem Rev 2019; 120:4660-4689. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P. Glavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - Aaron S. Burton
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, United States
| | - Jamie E. Elsila
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
| | - José C. Aponte
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
- Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, United States
| | - Jason P. Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, United States
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6
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Steele A, Benning LG, Wirth R, Siljeström S, Fries MD, Hauri E, Conrad PG, Rogers K, Eigenbrode J, Schreiber A, Needham A, Wang JH, McCubbin FM, Kilcoyne D, Rodriguez Blanco JD. Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction of CO 2. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaat5118. [PMID: 30402538 PMCID: PMC6209388 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat5118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The sources and nature of organic carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense research. Steele et al. (2012) showed that 10 martian meteorites contain macromolecular carbon phases contained within pyroxene- and olivine-hosted melt inclusions. Here, we show that martian meteorites Tissint, Nakhla, and NWA 1950 have an inventory of organic carbon species associated with fluid-mineral reactions that are remarkably consistent with those detected by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. We advance the hypothesis that interactions among spinel-group minerals, sulfides, and a brine enable the electrochemical reduction of aqueous CO2 to organic molecules. Although documented here in martian samples, a similar process likely occurs wherever igneous rocks containing spinel-group minerals and/or sulfides encounter brines.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Steele
- Carnegie Institution for Science, Geophysical Laboratory, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - L. G. Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - R. Wirth
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - S. Siljeström
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Bioscience and Materials/Chemistry, Materials and Surfaces, Box 5607, 114 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. D. Fries
- NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - E. Hauri
- Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Rd, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - P. G. Conrad
- Carnegie Institution for Science, Geophysical Laboratory, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - K. Rogers
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - J. Eigenbrode
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - A. Schreiber
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - A. Needham
- USRA–Science and Technology Institute, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA
| | - J. H. Wang
- Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Rd, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | | | - D. Kilcoyne
- Advanced Light Source, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS 7R0222, LBNL, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Juan Diego Rodriguez Blanco
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- ICRAG, Department of Geology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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7
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Wieczorek R, Adamala K, Gasperi T, Polticelli F, Stano P. Small and Random Peptides: An Unexplored Reservoir of Potentially Functional Primitive Organocatalysts. The Case of Seryl-Histidine. Life (Basel) 2017; 7:E19. [PMID: 28397774 PMCID: PMC5492141 DOI: 10.3390/life7020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Catalysis is an essential feature of living systems biochemistry, and probably, it played a key role in primordial times, helping to produce more complex molecules from simple ones. However, enzymes, the biocatalysts par excellence, were not available in such an ancient context, and so, instead, small molecule catalysis (organocatalysis) may have occurred. The best candidates for the role of primitive organocatalysts are amino acids and short random peptides, which are believed to have been available in an early period on Earth. In this review, we discuss the occurrence of primordial organocatalysts in the form of peptides, in particular commenting on reports about seryl-histidine dipeptide, which have recently been investigated. Starting from this specific case, we also mention a peptide fragment condensation scenario, as well as other potential roles of peptides in primordial times. The review actually aims to stimulate further investigation on an unexplored field of research, namely one that specifically looks at the catalytic activity of small random peptides with respect to reactions relevant to prebiotic chemistry and early chemical evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Wieczorek
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Adamala
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Tecla Gasperi
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabio Polticelli
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Roma Tre Section, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Stano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Campus Ecotekne (S.P. 6 Lecce-Monteroni), 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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8
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Aponte JC, Elsila JE, Glavin DP, Milam SN, Charnley SB, Dworkin JP. Pathways to Meteoritic Glycine and Methylamine. ACS EARTH & SPACE CHEMISTRY 2017; 1:3-13. [PMID: 32500112 PMCID: PMC7271971 DOI: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.6b00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Glycine and methylamine are meteoritic water-soluble organic compounds that provide insights into the processes that occurred before, during, and after the formation of the Solar System. Both glycine and methylamine and many of their potential synthetic precursors have been studied in astrophysical environments via observations, laboratory experiments, and modeling. In spite of these studies, the synthetic mechanisms for their formation leading to their occurrence in meteorites remain poorly understood. Typical 13C-isotopic values (δ13C) of meteoritic glycine and methylamine are 13C-enriched relative to their terrestrial counterparts; thus, analyses of their stable carbon isotopic compositions (13C/12C) may be used not only to assess terrestrial contamination in meteorites, but also to provide information about their synthetic routes inside the parent body. Here, we examine potential synthetic routes of glycine and methylamine from a common set of precursors present in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, using data from laboratory analyses of the well-studied CM2 meteorite Murchison. Several synthetic mechanisms for the origins of glycine and methylamine found in carbonaceous chondrites may be possible, and the prevalence of these mechanisms will largely depend on (a) the molecular abundance of the precursor molecules and (b) the levels of processing (aqueous and thermal) that occurred inside the parent body. In this work, we also aim to contextualize the current knowledge about gas-phase reactions and irradiated ice grain chemistry for the synthesis of these species through parent body processes. Our evaluation of various mechanisms for the origins of meteoritic glycine and methylamine from simple species shows what work is still needed to evaluate both, the abundances and isotopic compositions of simpler precursor molecules from carbonaceous chondrites, as well as the effects of parent body processes on those abundances and isotopic compositions. The analyses presented here combined with the indicated measurements will aid a better interpretation of quantitative analysis of reaction rates, molecular stability, and distribution of organic products from laboratory simulations of interstellar ices, astronomical observations, and theoretical modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- José C. Aponte
- The Goddard Center for Astrobiology and Solar System Exploration Division, Code 691, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Jamie E. Elsila
- The Goddard Center for Astrobiology and Solar System Exploration Division, Code 691, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - Daniel P. Glavin
- The Goddard Center for Astrobiology and Solar System Exploration Division, Code 691, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - Stefanie N. Milam
- The Goddard Center for Astrobiology and Solar System Exploration Division, Code 691, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - Steven B. Charnley
- The Goddard Center for Astrobiology and Solar System Exploration Division, Code 691, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - Jason P. Dworkin
- The Goddard Center for Astrobiology and Solar System Exploration Division, Code 691, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
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9
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Cobb AK, Pudritz RE, Pearce BKD. NATURE’S STARSHIPS. II. SIMULATING THE SYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS IN METEORITE PARENT BODIES. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1088/0004-637x/809/1/6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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10
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Kaur R, Vikas. Mechanisms for the inversion of chirality: global reaction route mapping of stereochemical pathways in a probable chiral extraterrestrial molecule, 2-aminopropionitrile. J Chem Phys 2015; 142:074307. [PMID: 25702015 DOI: 10.1063/1.4907593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
2-Aminopropionitrile (APN), a probable candidate as a chiral astrophysical molecule, is a precursor to amino-acid alanine. Stereochemical pathways in 2-APN are explored using Global Reaction Route Mapping (GRRM) method employing high-level quantum-mechanical computations. Besides predicting the conventional mechanism for chiral inversion that proceeds through an achiral intermediate, a counterintuitive flipping mechanism is revealed for 2-APN through chiral intermediates explored using the GRRM. The feasibility of the proposed stereochemical pathways, in terms of the Gibbs free-energy change, is analyzed at the temperature conditions akin to the interstellar medium. Notably, the stereoinversion in 2-APN is observed to be more feasible than the dissociation of 2-APN and intermediates involved along the stereochemical pathways, and the flipping barrier is observed to be as low as 3.68 kJ/mol along one of the pathways. The pathways proposed for the inversion of chirality in 2-APN may provide significant insight into the extraterrestrial origin of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanpreet Kaur
- Quantum Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Vikas
- Quantum Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
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11
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Longo LM, Lee J, Blaber M. Simplified protein design biased for prebiotic amino acids yields a foldable, halophilic protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:2135-9. [PMID: 23341608 PMCID: PMC3568330 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1219530110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A compendium of different types of abiotic chemical syntheses identifies a consensus set of 10 "prebiotic" α-amino acids. Before the emergence of biosynthetic pathways, this set is the most plausible resource for protein formation (i.e., proteogenesis) within the overall process of abiogenesis. An essential unsolved question regarding this prebiotic set is whether it defines a "foldable set"--that is, does it contain sufficient chemical information to permit cooperatively folding polypeptides? If so, what (if any) characteristic properties might such polypeptides exhibit? To investigate these questions, two "primitive" versions of an extant protein fold (the β-trefoil) were produced by top-down symmetric deconstruction, resulting in a reduced alphabet size of 12 or 13 amino acids and a percentage of prebiotic amino acids approaching 80%. These proteins show a substantial acidification of pI and require high salt concentrations for cooperative folding. The results suggest that the prebiotic amino acids do comprise a foldable set within the halophile environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam M. Longo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300
| | | | - Michael Blaber
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4300
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12
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Longo LM, Blaber M. Protein design at the interface of the pre-biotic and biotic worlds. Arch Biochem Biophys 2012; 526:16-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2012.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 06/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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13
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Carbonaceous meteorites contain a wide range of extraterrestrial nucleobases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:13995-8. [PMID: 21836052 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1106493108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
All terrestrial organisms depend on nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), which use pyrimidine and purine nucleobases to encode genetic information. Carbon-rich meteorites may have been important sources of organic compounds required for the emergence of life on the early Earth; however, the origin and formation of nucleobases in meteorites has been debated for over 50 y. So far, the few nucleobases reported in meteorites are biologically common and lacked the structural diversity typical of other indigenous meteoritic organics. Here, we investigated the abundance and distribution of nucleobases and nucleobase analogs in formic acid extracts of 12 different meteorites by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Murchison and Lonewolf Nunataks 94102 meteorites contained a diverse suite of nucleobases, which included three unusual and terrestrially rare nucleobase analogs: purine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6,8-diaminopurine. In a parallel experiment, we found an identical suite of nucleobases and nucleobase analogs generated in reactions of ammonium cyanide. Additionally, these nucleobase analogs were not detected above our parts-per-billion detection limits in any of the procedural blanks, control samples, a terrestrial soil sample, and an Antarctic ice sample. Our results demonstrate that the purines detected in meteorites are consistent with products of ammonium cyanide chemistry, which provides a plausible mechanism for their synthesis in the asteroid parent bodies, and strongly supports an extraterrestrial origin. The discovery of new nucleobase analogs in meteorites also expands the prebiotic molecular inventory available for constructing the first genetic molecules.
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14
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Dorn ED, Nealson KH, Adami C. Monomer abundance distribution patterns as a universal biosignature: examples from terrestrial and digital life. J Mol Evol 2011; 72:283-95. [PMID: 21253717 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-011-9429-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Organisms leave a distinctive chemical signature in their environment because they synthesize those molecules that maximize their fitness. As a result, the relative concentrations of related chemical monomers in life-bearing environmental samples reflect, in part, those compounds' adaptive utility. In contrast, rates of molecular synthesis in a lifeless environment are dictated by reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, so concentrations of related monomers in abiotic samples tend to exhibit specific patterns dominated by small, easily formed, low-formation-energy molecules. We contend that this distinction can serve as a universal biosignature: the measurement of chemical concentration ratios that belie formation kinetics or equilibrium thermodynamics indicates the likely presence of life. We explore the features of this biosignature as observed in amino acids and carboxylic acids, using published data from numerous studies of terrestrial sediments, abiotic (spark, UV, and high-energy proton) synthesis experiments, and meteorite bodies. We then compare these data to the results of experimental studies of an evolving digital life system. We observe the robust and repeatable evolution of an analogous biosignature in a digital lifeform, suggesting that evolutionary selection necessarily constrains organism composition and that the monomer abundance biosignature phenomenon is universal to evolved biosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan D Dorn
- Digital Life Laboratory 136-93, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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15
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Blank JG, Miller GH, Ahrens MJ, Winans RE. Experimental shock chemistry of aqueous amino acid solutions and the cometary delivery of prebiotic compounds. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2001; 31:15-51. [PMID: 11296518 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006758803255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A series of shock experiments were conducted to assess the feasibility of the delivery of organic compounds to the Earth via cometary impacts. Aqueous solutions containing near-saturation levels of amino acids (lysine, norvaline, aminobutyric acid, proline, and phenylalanine) were sealed inside stainless steel capsules and shocked by ballistic impact with a steel projectile plate accelerated along a 12-m-long gun barrel to velocities of 0.5-1.9 km sec-1. Pressure-temperature-time histories of the shocked fluids were calculated using 1D hydrodynamical simulations. Maximum conditions experienced by the solutions lasted 0.85-2.7 microseconds and ranged from 5.1-21 GPa and 412-870 K. Recovered sample capsules were milled open and liquid was extracted. Samples were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). In all experiments, a large fraction of the amino acids survived. We observed differences in kinetic behavior and the degree of survivability among the amino acids. Aminobutyric acid appeared to be the least reactive, and phenylalanine appeared to be the most reactive of the amino acids. The impact process resulted in the formation of peptide bonds; new compounds included amino acid dimers and cyclic diketopiperazines. In our experiments, and in certain naturally occurring impacts, pressure has a greater influence than temperature in determining reaction pathways. Our results support the hypothesis that significant concentrations of organic material could survive a natural impact process.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Blank
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, 301 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720-4767, USA
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Brinton KL, Engrand C, Glavin DP, Bada JL, Maurette M. A search for extraterrestrial amino acids in carbonaceous Antarctic micrometeorites. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 1998; 28:413-24. [PMID: 9742723 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006548905523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) in the 100-400 microns size range are the dominant mass fraction of extraterrestrial material accreted by the Earth today. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based technique exploited at the limits of sensitivity has been used to search for the extraterrestrial amino acids alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and isovaline in AMMs. Five samples, each containing about 30 to 35 grains, were analyzed. All the samples possess a terrestrial amino acid component, indicated by the excess of the L-enantiomers of common protein amino acids. In only one sample (A91) was AIB found to be present at a level significantly above the background blanks. The concentration of AIB (approximately 280 ppm), and the AIB/isovaline ratio (> or = 10), in this sample are both much higher than in CM chondrites. The apparently large variation in the AIB concentrations of the samples suggests that AIB may be concentrated in rare subset of micrometeorites. Because the AIB/isovaline ratio in sample A91 is much larger than in CM chondrites, the synthesis of amino acids in the micrometeorite parent bodies might have involved a different process requiring an HCN-rich environment, such as that found in comets. If the present day characteristics of the meteorite and micrometeorite fluxes can be extrapolated back in time, then the flux of large carbonaceous micrometeorites could have contributed to the inventory of prebiotic molecules on the early Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Brinton
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego 92093, USA
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Abstract
Giant micrometeorites (sizes ranging from approximately 50 to 500 micrometers), such as those that were first recovered from clean pre-industrial Antarctic ices in December 1987, represent by far the dominant source of extraterrestrial carbonaceous material accreted by the Earth's surface, about 50,000 times the amount delivered by meteorites (sizes > or = a few cm). They correspond to large interplanetary dust particles that survived unexpectedly well their hypervelocity impact with the Earth's atmosphere, contrary to predictions of theoretical models of such impacts. They are related to relatively rare groups of carbonaceous chondrites (approximately 2% of the meteorite falls) and not to the most abundant meteorites (oridinary chondrites and differentiated micrometeorites). About 80% of them appear to be highly unequilibrated fine-grained assemblages of mineral grains, where an abundant carbonaceous component is closely associated on a scale of < or = 0.1 micron to both hydrous and anhydrous minerals, including potential catalysts. These observations suggest that micrometeorites could have functioned as individual microscopic chemical reactors to contribute to the synthesis of prebiotic molecules on the early Earth, about 4 billion years ago. The recent identification of some of their complex organics (amino acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and the observation that they behave as very efficient 'cosmochromatographs', further support this 'early carbonaceous micrometeorite' scenario. Future prospects include identifying the host phases (probably ferrihydrite) of their complex organics, evaluating their catalytic activity, and assessing whether synergetic interactions between micrometeorites and favorable zones of the early Earth (such as submarine hydrothermal vents) accelerated and/or modified such synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Maurette
- C.S.N.S.M., Batiment 104, 91405, Orsay-Campus, France
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Simakov MB, Kuzicheva EA, Antropov AE. Formation of oligopeptides on the surface of small bodies in solar system by cosmic radiation. ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH (COSPAR) 1997; 19:1063-1066. [PMID: 11541334 DOI: 10.1016/s0273-1177(97)00354-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The present experiment indicates that oligopeptides are easily produced in solid state from mixtures of simple amino acids by irradiating with high energy charged particles. We investigated such amino acids and their mixtures as tryptophan, tyrosine and glycine. The thin films was irradiated with protons (6.6 MeV). Such dipeptides as Trp-Trp, Gly-Tyr, Tyr-Gly, and Tyr-Tyr have been detected as products of irradiation. Cosmic rays might be an effective energy source for abiotic formation of bioorganic compounds on the surface of small bodies in the solar system on early stage of formation of planets as well as at present day.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Simakov
- Institute of Cytology, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Products of the Strecker synthesis as indicators of parent body conditons of the Murchison meteorite. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 1996. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02459717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Brinton KL, Bada JL. A reexamination of amino acids in lunar soils: implications for the survival of exogenous organic material during impact delivery. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA 1996; 60:349-354. [PMID: 11541128 DOI: 10.1016/0016-7037(95)00404-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Using a sensitive high performance liquid chromatography technique, we have analyzed both the hot water extract and the acid hydrolyzed hot water extract of lunar soil collected during the Apollo 17 mission. Both free amino acids and those derived from acid labile precursors are present at a level of roughly 15 ppb. Based on the D/L amino acid ratios, the free alanine and aspartic acid observed in the hot water extract can be entirely attributed to terrestrial biogenic contamination. However, in the acid labile fraction, precursors which yield amino acids are apparently present in the lunar soil. The amino acid distribution suggests that the precursor is probably solar wind implanted HCN. We have evaluated our results with regard to the meteoritic input of intact organic compounds to the moon based on an upper limit of < or = 0.3 ppb for alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, a non-protein amino acid which does not generally occur in terrestrial organisms and which is not a major amino acid produced from HCN, but which is a predominant amino acid in many carbonaceous chondrites. We find that the survival of exogenous organic compounds during lunar impact is < or = 0.8%. This result represents an example of minimum organic impact survivability. This is an important first step toward a better understanding of similar processes on Earth and on Mars, and their possible contribution to the budget of prebiotic organic compounds on the primitive Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Brinton
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0212, USA
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Lerner NR. Influence of Murchison or Allende minerals on hydrogen-deuterium exchange of amino acids. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA 1995; 59:1623-1631. [PMID: 11540046 DOI: 10.1016/0016-7037(95)00068-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Deuterium-enriched amino acids occur in the Murchison carbonaceous chrondrite. This meteorite underwent a period of aqueous alteration with isotopically light water. With the objective of setting limits on the conditions of aqueous alteration, the exchange of the carbon-bonded hydrogen atoms of amino acids with D2O has been studied from 295 to 380 K as a function of time and meteorite/heavy water ratio. The amount of Murchison or Allende dust present has a significant effect on the rate and amount of hydrogen-deuterium exchange observed. At elevated temperatures, the alpha-hydrogens of all the amino acids studied were found to exchange with deuterium. In glycine and aspartic acid, this process resulted in total exchange of the carbon-bonded hydrogen. A completely deuterated isotopomer of alanine was produced in significant quantities only when the rock/water ratio was greater than 0.5. No exchange of carbon-bonded hydrogens was observed in the case of amino acids which do not possess an alpha-hydrogen atom. The rates of H/D exchange for amino acids observed here did not correspond to deuterium enrichment of the amino acids in the Murchison meteorite. These results suggest that H/D exchange with water had a negligible effect on the observed deuterium enrichment of amino acids found in Murchison and that the temperature at which the amino acids were exposed to liquid water was close to 273 K.
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Affiliation(s)
- N R Lerner
- Planetary Biology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
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