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López-García A, Manjavacas M, de la Fuente JL, Ruiz-Bermejo M. Solvothermal Polymerization of Diaminomaleonitrile Reveals Optimal Green Solvents for the Production of C=N-Based Polymers. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:41867-41883. [PMID: 39398125 PMCID: PMC11465270 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Solvothermal polymerization (STP) of diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) was evaluated using a wide variety of solvents and in the temperature range from 80 to 170 °C. The highest yields, almost quantitative, were achieved with protic n-alcohols such as n-pentanol or n-hexanol at 130 and 150 °C, respectively. The kinetic behavior was studied by gravimetry and the DAMN consumption was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and HPLC. GC-MS identified byproducts of the DAMN hydrolysis and oxidation reactions, which were significantly reduced when n-pentanol or n-hexanol were used with respect to hydrothermal conditions. This led to an exploration of compositional changes and microstructural variations by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and simultaneous thermal analysis. n-Hexanol appears to be an ideal eco-friendly solvent for the DAMN self-STP. The results presented here are not only of interest for the design of polymeric materials based on C=N structures but also show remarkable implications for prebiotic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio López-García
- Dpto.
Evolución Molecular, Centro de Astrobiología
(CAB), CSIC-INTA, Ctra.
Torrejón-Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón
de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain
| | - Marina Manjavacas
- Centro
de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas UPM−INIA
Parque Científico yTecnológico de la UPM Campus
de Montegancedo, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - José L. de la Fuente
- Instituto
Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas”
(INTA), Ctra. Torrejón-Ajalvir,
km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain
| | - Marta Ruiz-Bermejo
- Dpto.
Evolución Molecular, Centro de Astrobiología
(CAB), CSIC-INTA, Ctra.
Torrejón-Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón
de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain
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2
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Rosa CA, Bergantini A, Herczku P, Mifsud DV, Lakatos G, Kovács STS, Sulik B, Juhász Z, Ioppolo S, Quitián-Lara HM, Mason NJ, Lage C. Infrared Spectral Signatures of Nucleobases in Interstellar Ices I: Purines. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2208. [PMID: 38004348 PMCID: PMC10672069 DOI: 10.3390/life13112208] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The purine nucleobases adenine and guanine are complex organic molecules that are essential for life. Despite their ubiquitous presence on Earth, purines have yet to be detected in observations of astronomical environments. This work therefore proposes to study the infrared spectra of purines linked to terrestrial biochemical processes under conditions analogous to those found in the interstellar medium. The infrared spectra of adenine and guanine, both in neat form and embedded within an ice made of H2O:NH3:CH4:CO:CH3OH (10:1:1:1:1), were analysed with the aim of determining which bands attributable to adenine and/or guanine can be observed in the infrared spectrum of an astrophysical ice analogue rich in other volatile species known to be abundant in dense molecular clouds. The spectrum of adenine and guanine mixed together was also analysed. This study has identified three purine nucleobase infrared absorption bands that do not overlap with bands attributable to the volatiles that are ubiquitous in the dense interstellar medium. Therefore, these three bands, which are located at 1255, 940, and 878 cm-1, are proposed as an infrared spectral signature for adenine, guanine, or a mixture of these molecules in astrophysical ices. All three bands have integrated molar absorptivity values (ψ) greater than 4 km mol-1, meaning that they should be readily observable in astronomical targets. Therefore, if these three bands were to be observed together in the same target, then it is possible to propose the presence of a purine molecule (i.e., adenine or guanine) there.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Antunes Rosa
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Bergantini
- Celso Suckow da Fonseca Federal Centre for Technological Education, Rio de Janeiro 20271-110, Brazil
| | - Péter Herczku
- HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Duncan V. Mifsud
- HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gergő Lakatos
- HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Béla Sulik
- HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Juhász
- HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sergio Ioppolo
- Centre for Interstellar Catalysis (InterCat), Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Heidy M. Quitián-Lara
- Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, UK
| | - Nigel J. Mason
- HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research (Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary
- Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, UK
| | - Claudia Lage
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
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Civiš S, Pastorek A, Ferus M, Yurchenko SN, Boudjema NI. Infrared Spectra of Small Radicals for Exoplanetary Spectroscopy: OH, NH, CN and CH: The State of Current Knowledge. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083362. [PMID: 37110598 PMCID: PMC10143568 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083362] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present a current state-of-the-art review of middle-to-near IR emission spectra of four simple astrophysically relevant molecular radicals-OH, NH, CN and CH. The spectra of these radicals were measured by means of time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the 700-7500 cm-1 spectral range and with 0.07-0.02 cm-1 spectral resolution. The radicals were generated in a glow discharge of gaseous mixtures in a specially designed discharge cell. The spectra of short-lived radicals published here are of great importance, especially for the detailed knowledge and study of the composition of exoplanetary atmospheres in selected new planets. Today, with the help of the James Webb telescope and upcoming studies with the help of Plato and Ariel satellites, when the investigated spectral area is extended into the infrared spectral range, it means that detailed knowledge of the infrared spectra of not only stable molecules but also the spectra of short-lived radicals or ions, is indispensable. This paper follows a simple structure. Each radical is described in a separate chapter, starting with historical and actual theoretical background, continued by our experimental results and concluded by spectral line lists with assigned notation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Adam Pastorek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Sergei N Yurchenko
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Noor-Ines Boudjema
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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4
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Natural Radioactivity and Chemical Evolution on the Early Earth: Prebiotic Chemistry and Oxygenation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238584. [PMID: 36500676 PMCID: PMC9740107 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is generally recognized that the evolution of the early Earth was affected by an external energy source: radiation from the early Sun. The hypothesis about the important role of natural radioactivity, as a source of internal energy in the evolution of the early Earth, is considered and substantiated in this work. The decay of the long-lived isotopes 232Th, 238U, 235U, and 40K in the Global Ocean initiated the oxygenation of the hydro- and atmosphere, and the abiogenesis. The content of isotopes in the ocean and the kinetics of their decay, the values of the absorbed dose and dose rate, and the efficiency of sea water radiolysis, as a function of time, were calculated. The ocean served as both a "reservoir" that collected components of the early atmosphere and products of their transformations, and a "converter" in which further chemical reactions of these compounds took place. Radical mechanisms were proposed for the formation of simple amino acids, sugars, and nitrogen bases, i.e., the key structures of all living things, and also for the formation of oxygen. The calculation results confirm the possible important role of natural radioactivity in the evolution of terrestrial matter, and the emergence of life.
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5
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Pastorek A, Clark VHJ, Yurchenko SN, Ferus M, Civiš S. New physical insights: Formamide discharge decomposition and the role of fragments in the formation of large biomolecules. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 278:121322. [PMID: 35537261 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work we present a time-resolved FTIR spectroscopic study on kinetics of atomic and molecular species, specifically CO, CN radical, N2, HCN and CO2 generated in a glow discharge of formamide-nitrogen-water mixture in a helium buffer gas. Radicals such as NH, CH and OH have been proven to be fundamental stones of subsequent chemical reactions having a crucial role in a prebiotic synthesis of large organic molecules. This work contains three main goals. Firstly, we present our time-resolved spectra of formamide decomposition products and discuss the mechanism of collisional excitations between specific species. Secondly, according to our time resolution, we demonstrate and explain the band shape of CO's first overtone and the energy transfer between excited nitrogen and CO, present in our spectra. Lastly, we present theoretical results for the non-LTE modelling of the spectra using bi-temperature approach and a 1D harmonic Franck-Condon approach for the multi-molecule spectra of the formamide decomposition process in the 1800-5600 cm-1 spectral range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pastorek
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic; Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519 Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Victoria H J Clark
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Sergei N Yurchenko
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
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6
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Amante G, Sponer JE, Sponer J, Saija F, Cassone G. A Computational Quantum-Based Perspective on the Molecular Origins of Life's Building Blocks. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 24:1012. [PMID: 35892991 PMCID: PMC9394336 DOI: 10.3390/e24081012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The search for the chemical origins of life represents a long-standing and continuously debated enigma. Despite its exceptional complexity, in the last decades the field has experienced a revival, also owing to the exponential growth of the computing power allowing for efficiently simulating the behavior of matter-including its quantum nature-under disparate conditions found, e.g., on the primordial Earth and on Earth-like planetary systems (i.e., exoplanets). In this minireview, we focus on some advanced computational methods capable of efficiently solving the Schro¨dinger equation at different levels of approximation (i.e., density functional theory)-such as ab initio molecular dynamics-and which are capable to realistically simulate the behavior of matter under the action of energy sources available in prebiotic contexts. In addition, recently developed metadynamics methods coupled with first-principles simulations are here reviewed and exploited to answer to old enigmas and to propose novel scenarios in the exponentially growing research field embedding the study of the chemical origins of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Amante
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Science, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, Università degli Studi di Messina, V. le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy;
| | - Judit E. Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IBP-CAS), Kràlovopolskà 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.S.); (J.S.)
| | - Jiri Sponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IBP-CAS), Kràlovopolskà 135, 61265 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.E.S.); (J.S.)
| | - Franz Saija
- Institute for Physical-Chemical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), V. le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Physical-Chemical Processes, National Research Council of Italy (IPCF-CNR), V. le F. Stagno d’Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
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7
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Morphology of Meteorite Surfaces Ablated by High-Power Lasers: Review and Applications. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12104869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Under controlled laboratory conditions, lasers represent a source of energy with well-defined parameters suitable for mimicking phenomena such as ablation, disintegration, and plasma formation processes that take place during the hypervelocity atmospheric entry of meteoroids. Furthermore, lasers have also been proposed for employment in future space exploration and planetary defense in a wide range of potential applications. This highlights the importance of an experimental investigation of lasers’ interaction with real samples of interplanetary matter: meteorite specimens. We summarize the results of numerous meteorite laser ablation experiments performed by several laser sources—a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser, the multislab ceramic Yb:YAG Bivoj laser, and the iodine laser known as PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System). The differences in the ablation spots’ morphology and their dependence on the laser parameters are examined via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and profilometry in the context of the meteorite properties and the physical characteristics of laser-induced plasma.
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8
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Kolesniková L, León I, Alonso ER, Mata S, Alonso JL. An Innovative Approach for the Generation of Species of the Interstellar Medium. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202110325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Kolesniková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry University of Chemistry and Technology Technická 5 16628 Prague 6 Czech Republic
| | - Iker León
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Molecular (GEM) Edificio Quifima Área de Química-Física Laboratorios de Espectroscopia y, Bioespectroscopia Parque Científico UVa Unidad Asociada CSIC Universidad de Valladolid 47011 Valladolid Spain
| | - Elena R. Alonso
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC) University of the Basque Country 48940 Leioa Spain
- Departamento de Química Física Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología Universidad del País Vasco Barrio Sarriena s/n 48940 Leioa Spain
| | - Santiago Mata
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Molecular (GEM) Edificio Quifima Área de Química-Física Laboratorios de Espectroscopia y, Bioespectroscopia Parque Científico UVa Unidad Asociada CSIC Universidad de Valladolid 47011 Valladolid Spain
| | - Jose Luis Alonso
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Molecular (GEM) Edificio Quifima Área de Química-Física Laboratorios de Espectroscopia y, Bioespectroscopia Parque Científico UVa Unidad Asociada CSIC Universidad de Valladolid 47011 Valladolid Spain
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9
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Kolesniková L, León I, Alonso ER, Mata S, Alonso JL. An Innovative Approach for the Generation of Species of the Interstellar Medium. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:24461-24466. [PMID: 34496111 PMCID: PMC8597129 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202110325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The large amount of unstable species in the realm of interstellar chemistry drives an urgent need to develop efficient methods for the in situ generations of molecules that enable their spectroscopic characterizations. Such laboratory experiments are fundamental to decode the molecular universe by matching the interstellar and terrestrial spectra. We propose an approach based on laser ablation of nonvolatile solid organic precursors. The generated chemical species are cooled in a supersonic expansion and probed by high‐resolution microwave spectroscopy. We present a proof of concept through a simultaneous formation of interstellar compounds and the first generation of aminocyanoacetylene using diaminomaleonitrile as a prototypical precursor. With this micro‐laboratory, we open the door to generation of unsuspected species using precursors not typically accessible to traditional techniques such as electric discharge and pyrolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Kolesniková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, 16628, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Iker León
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopia y, Bioespectroscopia, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Elena R Alonso
- Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Spain.,Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Santiago Mata
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopia y, Bioespectroscopia, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Alonso
- Grupo de Espectroscopia Molecular (GEM), Edificio Quifima, Área de Química-Física, Laboratorios de Espectroscopia y, Bioespectroscopia, Parque Científico UVa, Unidad Asociada CSIC, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011, Valladolid, Spain
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10
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Micellar electrokinetic chromatography as a powerful analytical tool for research on prebiotic chemistry. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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11
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Prebiotic chemistry and origins of life research with atomistic computer simulations. Phys Life Rev 2020; 34-35:105-135. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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12
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Ferus M, Rimmer P, Cassone G, Knížek A, Civiš S, Šponer JE, Ivanek O, Šponer J, Saeidfirozeh H, Kubelík P, Dudžák R, Petera L, Juha L, Pastorek A, Křivková A, Krůs M. One-Pot Hydrogen Cyanide-Based Prebiotic Synthesis of Canonical Nucleobases and Glycine Initiated by High-Velocity Impacts on Early Earth. ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:1476-1488. [PMID: 32955922 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chemical environments of young planets are assumed to be significantly influenced by impacts of bodies lingering after the dissolution of the protoplanetary disk. We explore the chemical consequences of impacts of these bodies under reducing planetary atmospheres dominated by carbon monoxide, methane, and molecular nitrogen. Impacts were simulated by using a terawatt high-power laser system. Our experimental results show that one-pot impact-plasma-initiated synthesis of all the RNA canonical nucleobases and the simplest amino acid glycine is possible in this type of atmosphere in the presence of montmorillonite. This one-pot synthesis begins with de novo formation of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and proceeds through intermediates such as cyanoacetylene and urea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paul Rimmer
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cavendish Astrophysics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute for Physical-Chemical Processes, National Research Council, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonín Knížek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Judit E Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Ivanek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Homa Saeidfirozeh
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kubelík
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiation and Chemical Physics, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Dudžák
- Department of Radiation and Chemical Physics, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Petera
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Juha
- Department of Radiation and Chemical Physics, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adam Pastorek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Křivková
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Krůs
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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13
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Pastorek A, Ferus M, Čuba V, Šrámek O, Ivanek O, Civiš S. Primordial Radioactivity and Prebiotic Chemical Evolution: Effect of γ Radiation on Formamide-Based Synthesis. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:8951-8959. [PMID: 32970439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although the effect of ionizing radiation on prebiotic chemistry is often overlooked, primordial natural radioactivity might have been an important source of energy for various chemical transformations. Estimates of the abundances of short-lived radionuclides on early Earth suggest that the primordial intensity of endogenous terrestrial radioactivity was up to 4 × 103 times higher than it is today. Therefore, we assume that chemical substances in contact with radioactive rocks should therefore undergo radiolysis. The calculations are followed by research investigating the influence of ionizing γ radiation on basic prebiotic substances, including formamide mixed with various clays, which might have played the role of a catalyst and an agent that partially blocked radiation that was potentially destructive for the products. Our explorations of this effect have shown that the irradiation of formamide-clay mixtures at doses of ∼6 kGy produces significant amounts of urea (up to the maximal concentration of approximately 250 mg L-1), which plays a role in HCN-based prebiotic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pastorek
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519 Prague, Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Čuba
- Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Břehová 78/7, 11519 Prague, Prague 1, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Šrámek
- Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Ivanek
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 18200 Prague, Prague 8, Czech Republic
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14
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Takeuchi Y, Furukawa Y, Kobayashi T, Sekine T, Terada N, Kakegawa T. Impact-induced amino acid formation on Hadean Earth and Noachian Mars. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9220. [PMID: 32513990 PMCID: PMC7280214 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66112-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Abiotic synthesis of biomolecules is an essential step for the chemical origin of life. Many attempts have succeeded in synthesizing biomolecules, including amino acids and nucleobases (e.g., via spark discharge, impact shock, and hydrothermal heating), from reduced compounds that may have been limited in their availabilities on Hadean Earth and Noachian Mars. On the other hand, formation of amino-acids and nucleobases from CO2 and N2 (i.e., the most abundant C and N sources on Earth during the Hadean) has been limited via spark discharge. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of amino acids by laboratory impact-induced reactions among simple inorganic mixtures: Fe, Ni, Mg2SiO4, H2O, CO2, and N2, by coupling the reduction of CO2, N2, and H2O with the oxidation of metallic Fe and Ni. These chemical processes simulated the possible reactions at impacts of Fe-bearing meteorites/asteroids on oceans with a CO2 and N2 atmosphere. The results indicate that hypervelocity impact was a source of amino acids on the Earth during the Hadean and potentially on Mars during the Noachian. Amino acids formed during such events could more readily polymerize in the next step of the chemical evolution, as impact events locally form amino acids at the impact sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aza-aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Furukawa
- Department of Earth Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aza-aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
| | - Takamichi Kobayashi
- National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Toshimori Sekine
- Center for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research, 1690 Cailun road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, 2-1 Yamada-Oka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naoki Terada
- Department of Geophysics, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aza-aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kakegawa
- Department of Earth Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aza-aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
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15
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Saladino R. Computational investigation of the primordial soup: Comment on "Prebiotic chemistry and origin of life research with atomistic computer simulations" by A. Pérez-Villa, F. Pietrucci, and A. M. Saitta. Phys Life Rev 2020; 34-35:149-152. [PMID: 31974057 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Saladino
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
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16
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Ghoshal S, Pramanik A, Biswas S, Sarkar P. CH 3NO as a potential intermediate for early atmospheric HCN: a quantum chemical insight. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:25126-25138. [PMID: 31691697 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03874d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) has played a central role in the production of several biological molecules under prebiotic conditions on primitive Earth. Previously, K. J. Zahnle (J. Geophys. Res.: Atmos., 1986, 91, 2819) and Tian et al. (Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2011, 308, 417) emphasized that HCN production in the early Earth's CH4-rich atmosphere could have been possible through the reaction between active nitrogen atoms (N) and methane photolysis products. Here, we have proposed alternative pathways for the formation of early atmospheric HCN via the decomposition of CH3NO as an intermediate. In the early Earth's O2-free atmosphere, CH3˙ could preferentially attach to NO, which was generated via early atmospheric volcanism or lightning and photochemical processes. We have quantum chemically explored both unimolecular and bimolecular decomposition pathways of CH3NO via the assistance of another CH3NO molecule and via H2O, NH3, HCl, HCOOH, HNO3 and H2SO4 catalysis. Both energetic and kinetic analyses reveal that H2SO4 is more efficient in this regard than other atmospheric species. Overall, it has been suggested that the proposed bimolecular decomposition pathways might have been alternative pathways for the formation of HCN under certain conditions on prebiotic Earth, while the unimolecular decomposition of CH3NO could lead to the formation of HCN in the high temperature volcanic environment on early Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Ghoshal
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
| | - Anup Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
| | - Santu Biswas
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
| | - Pranab Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.
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17
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Bizzarri BM, Šponer JE, Šponer J, Cassone G, Kapralov M, Timoshenko GN, Krasavin E, Fanelli G, Timperio AM, Di Mauro E, Saladino R. Meteorite‐Assisted Phosphorylation of Adenosine Under Proton Irradiation Conditions. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.201900039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno M. Bizzarri
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Judit E. Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 CZ-61265 Brno Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Faculty of SciencePalacky University 17 listopadu 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 CZ-61265 Brno Czech Republic
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Faculty of SciencePalacky University 17 listopadu 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Giuseppe Cassone
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Královopolská 135 CZ-61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Michail Kapralov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchJINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology Dubna Russia
| | - Gennady N. Timoshenko
- Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchJINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology Dubna Russia
| | - Eugene Krasavin
- Joint Institute for Nuclear ResearchJINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology Dubna Russia
| | - Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature, and EnergyUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Anna Maria Timperio
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Department of Ecological and Biological SciencesUniversity of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis 01100 Viterbo Italy
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18
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Pastorek A, Hrnčířová J, Jankovič L, Nejdl L, Civiš S, Ivanek O, Shestivska V, KníŽek A, Kubelík P, Šponer J, Petera L, Křivková A, Cassone G, Vaculovičová M, Šponer JE, Ferus M. Prebiotic synthesis at impact craters: the role of Fe-clays and iron meteorites. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:10563-10566. [PMID: 31417990 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc04627e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Besides delivering plausible prebiotic feedstock molecules and high-energy initiators, extraterrestrial impacts could also affect the process of abiogenesis by altering the early Earth's geological environment in which primitive life was conceived. We show that iron-rich smectites formed by reprocessing of basalts due to the residual post-impact heat could catalyze the synthesis and accumulation of important prebiotic building blocks such as nucleobases, amino acids and urea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Pastorek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
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19
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d'Ischia M, Manini P, Moracci M, Saladino R, Ball V, Thissen H, Evans RA, Puzzarini C, Barone V. Astrochemistry and Astrobiology: Materials Sciencein Wonderland? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4079. [PMID: 31438518 PMCID: PMC6747172 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrochemistry and astrobiology, the fascinating disciplines that strive to unravel the origin of life, have opened unprecedented and unpredicted vistas into exotic compounds as well as extreme or complex reaction conditions of potential relevance for a broad variety of applications. Representative, and so far little explored sources of inspiration include complex organic systems, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives; hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and formamide (HCONH2) oligomers and polymers, like aminomalononitrile (AMN)-derived species; and exotic processes, such as solid-state photoreactions on mineral surfaces, phosphorylation by minerals, cold ice irradiation and proton bombardment, and thermal transformations in fumaroles. In addition, meteorites and minerals like forsterite, which dominate dust chemistry in the interstellar medium, may open new avenues for the discovery of innovative catalytic processes and unconventional methodologies. The aim of this review was to offer concise and inspiring, rather than comprehensive, examples of astrochemistry-related materials and systems that may be of relevance in areas such as surface functionalization, nanostructures, and hybrid material design, and for innovative technological solutions. The potential of computational methods to predict new properties from spectroscopic data and to assess plausible reaction pathways on both kinetic and thermodynamic grounds has also been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco d'Ischia
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cupa Nuova Cinthia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Paola Manini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cupa Nuova Cinthia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Moracci
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Via Cupa Nuova Cinthia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Vincent Ball
- Institut National de la Santé et de la RechercheMédicale, 11 rue Humann, 67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France
- Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université de Strasbourg, 1 Place de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Helmut Thissen
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Richard A Evans
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Manufacturing, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Cristina Puzzarini
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via F. Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Barone
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
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20
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Mattia Bizzarri B, Botta L, Pérez-Valverde MI, Saladino R, Di Mauro E, García-Ruiz JM. Silica Metal Oxide Vesicles Catalyze Comprehensive Prebiotic Chemistry. Chemistry 2018; 24:8126-8132. [PMID: 29603465 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201706162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
It has recently been demonstrated that mineral self-assembled structures catalyzing prebiotic chemical reactions may form in natural waters derived from serpentinization, a geological process widespread in the early stages of Earth-like planets. We have synthesized self-assembled membranes by mixing microdrops of metal solutions with alkaline silicate solutions in the presence of formamide (NH2 CHO), a single-carbon molecule, at 80 °C. We found that these bilayer membranes, made of amorphous silica and metal oxide/hydroxide nanocrystals, catalyze the condensation of formamide, yielding the four nucleobases of RNA, three amino acids and, several carboxylic acids in a single-pot experiment. Besides manganese, iron and magnesium, two abundant elements in the earliest Earth crust that are key in serpentinization reactions, are enough to produce all these biochemical compounds. These results suggest that the transition from inorganic geochemistry to prebiotic organic chemistry is common on a universal scale and, most probably, occurred earlier than ever thought for our planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mattia Bizzarri
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Botta
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Maritza Iveth Pérez-Valverde
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la, Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de, Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, Granada, 18100, Spain
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la, Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de, Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, Granada, 18100, Spain
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21
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Jeilani YA, Ross B, Aweis N, Fearce C, Minh Hung H, Nguyen MT. Reaction Routes for Experimentally Observed Intermediates in the Prebiotic Formation of Nucleobases under High-Temperature Conditions. J Phys Chem A 2018; 122:2992-3003. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b11466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yassin A. Jeilani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane, S.W., Box 1134, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, United States
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Brooke Ross
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane, S.W., Box 1134, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, United States
| | - Nasrin Aweis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane, S.W., Box 1134, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, United States
| | - Chelesa Fearce
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane, S.W., Box 1134, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, United States
| | - Huynh Minh Hung
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Minh Tho Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
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22
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Šponer JE, Szabla R, Góra RW, Saitta AM, Pietrucci F, Saija F, Di Mauro E, Saladino R, Ferus M, Civiš S, Šponer J. Prebiotic synthesis of nucleic acids and their building blocks at the atomic level - merging models and mechanisms from advanced computations and experiments. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 18:20047-66. [PMID: 27136968 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp00670a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The origin of life on Earth is one of the most fascinating questions of contemporary science. Extensive research in the past decades furnished diverse experimental proposals for the emergence of first informational polymers that could form the basis of the early terrestrial life. Side by side with the experiments, the fast development of modern computational chemistry methods during the last 20 years facilitated the use of in silico modelling tools to complement the experiments. Modern computations can provide unique atomic-level insights into the structural and electronic aspects as well as the energetics of key prebiotic chemical reactions. Many of these insights are not directly obtainable from the experimental techniques and the computations are thus becoming indispensable for proper interpretation of many experiments and for qualified predictions. This review illustrates the synergy between experiment and theory in the origin of life research focusing on the prebiotic synthesis of various nucleic acid building blocks and on the self-assembly of nucleotides leading to the first functional oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit E Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, CZ-612 65 Brno, Czech Republic. and CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rafał Szabla
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, CZ-612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Robert W Góra
- Theoretical Chemistry Group, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - A Marco Saitta
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, CNRS, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 7590, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, CNRS, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 7590, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Franz Saija
- CNR-IPCF, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 37, 98158 Messina, Italy
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche Università della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, CZ-612 65 Brno, Czech Republic. and CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
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23
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Civiš M, Ferus M, Knížek A, Kubelík P, Kamas M, Španěl P, Dryahina K, Shestivska V, Juha L, Skřehot P, Laitl V, Civiš S. Spectroscopic investigations of high-energy-density plasma transformations in a simulated early reducing atmosphere containing methane, nitrogen and water. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 18:27317-27325. [PMID: 27722540 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp05025e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Large-scale plasma was created in gas mixtures containing methane using high-power laser-induced dielectric breakdown (LIDB). The composition of the mixtures corresponded to a cometary and/or meteoritic impact into the early atmosphere of either Titan or Earth. A multiple-centimeter-sized fireball was created by focusing a single 100 J, 450 ps near-infrared laser pulse into the center of a 15 L gas cell. The excited reaction intermediates formed during the various stages of the LIDB plasma chemical evolution were investigated using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) with temporal resolution. The chemical consequences of laser-produced plasma generation in a CH4-N2-H2O mixture were investigated using high resolution Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas selected ion flow tube spectrometry (SIFT). Several simple inorganic and organic compounds were identified in the reaction mixture exposed to ten laser sparks. Deuterated water (D2O) in a gas mixture was used to separate several of the produced isotopomers of acetylene, which were then quantified using the FTIR technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Civiš
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Antonín Knížek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Kubelík
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic. and Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Kamas
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Patrik Španěl
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Ksenia Dryahina
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Violetta Shestivska
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Libor Juha
- Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic and Institute of Plasma Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Za Slovankou 3, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Skřehot
- Safety and Health Expert Institute, Ostrovského 253, 150 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Laitl
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic. and František Krejčí Observatory, K Letišti 144, 36001 Carlsbad, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
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24
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Gahlaut A, Paranjothy M. Unimolecular decomposition of formamide via direct chemical dynamics simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp00541a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Classical chemical dynamics simulations show that formamide (NH2CHO) can dissociate via multiple pathways, either by direct dissociations or via intramolecular rearrangements to different isomers followed by dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchal Gahlaut
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
- Jodhpur
- India
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25
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High Energy Radical Chemistry Formation of HCN-rich Atmospheres on early Earth. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6275. [PMID: 28740207 PMCID: PMC5524942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06489-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent results in prebiotic chemistry implicate hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as the source of carbon and nitrogen for the synthesis of nucleotide, amino acid and lipid building blocks. HCN can be produced during impact events by reprocessing of carbonaceous and nitrogenous materials from both the impactor and the atmosphere; it can also be produced from these materials by electrical discharge. Here we investigate the effect of high energy events on a range of starting mixtures representative of various atmosphere-impactor volatile combinations. Using continuously scanning time–resolved spectrometry, we have detected ·CN radical and excited CO as the initially most abundant products. Cyano radicals and excited carbon monoxide molecules in particular are reactive, energy-rich species, but are resilient owing to favourable Franck–Condon factors. The subsequent reactions of these first formed excited species lead to the production of ground-state prebiotic building blocks, principally HCN.
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26
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Ferus M, Pietrucci F, Saitta AM, Knížek A, Kubelík P, Ivanek O, Shestivska V, Civiš S. Formation of nucleobases in a Miller-Urey reducing atmosphere. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:4306-4311. [PMID: 28396441 PMCID: PMC5410828 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Miller-Urey experiments pioneered modern research on the molecular origins of life, but their actual relevance in this field was later questioned because the gas mixture used in their research is considered too reducing with respect to the most accepted hypotheses for the conditions on primordial Earth. In particular, the production of only amino acids has been taken as evidence of the limited relevance of the results. Here, we report an experimental work, combined with state-of-the-art computational methods, in which both electric discharge and laser-driven plasma impact simulations were carried out in a reducing atmosphere containing NH3 + CO. We show that RNA nucleobases are synthesized in these experiments, strongly supporting the possibility of the emergence of biologically relevant molecules in a reducing atmosphere. The reconstructed synthetic pathways indicate that small radicals and formamide play a crucial role, in agreement with a number of recent experimental and theoretical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 7590, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Antonino Marco Saitta
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 7590, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Antonín Knížek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, CZ12840 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kubelík
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Ivanek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Violetta Shestivska
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic;
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27
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Rotelli L, Trigo-Rodríguez JM, Moyano-Cambero CE, Carota E, Botta L, Di Mauro E, Saladino R. The key role of meteorites in the formation of relevant prebiotic molecules in a formamide/water environment. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38888. [PMID: 27958316 PMCID: PMC5153646 DOI: 10.1038/srep38888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We show that carbonaceous chondrite meteorites actively and selectively catalyze the formation of relevant prebiotic molecules from formamide in aqueous media. Specific catalytic behaviours are observed, depending on the origin and composition of the chondrites and on the type of water present in the system (activity: thermal > seawater > pure). We report the one-pot synthesis of all the natural nucleobases, of aminoacids and of eight carboxylic acids (forming, from pyruvic acid to citric acid, a continuous series encompassing a large part of the extant Krebs cycle). These data shape a general prebiotic scenario consisting of carbonaceous meteorites acting as catalysts and of a volcanic-like environment providing heat, thermal waters and formamide. This scenario also applies to the other solar system locations that experienced rich delivery of carbonaceous materials, and whose physical-chemical conditions could have allowed chemical evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Rotelli
- Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Josep M. Trigo-Rodríguez
- Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC), Meteorites, Minor Bodies and Planetary Sciences Group, Campus UAB Bellaterra, Carrer de Can Magrans, s/n 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles E. Moyano-Cambero
- Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC), Meteorites, Minor Bodies and Planetary Sciences Group, Campus UAB Bellaterra, Carrer de Can Magrans, s/n 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eleonora Carota
- Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Botta
- Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
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28
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Saladino R, Carota E, Botta G, Kapralov M, Timoshenko GN, Rozanov A, Krasavin E, Di Mauro E. First Evidence on the Role of Heavy Ion Irradiation of Meteorites and Formamide in the Origin of Biomolecules. ORIGINS LIFE EVOL B 2016; 46:515-521. [PMID: 27052010 DOI: 10.1007/s11084-016-9495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Formamide (NH2CHO) has been irradiated in condensed phase at 273 K by 11B-boron beams in the presence of powdered meteorites of the chondrite and stony-iron types. Relative to the controls (no radiation or no catalysis), a variegate panel of compounds was observed, including purine and pyrimidine nucleobases (uracil, cytosine, adenine, and guanine), nucleobase analogues, heterocycles, and carboxylic acids involved in metabolic pathways. The presence of amino imidazole carbonitrile (AICN), 4,6-diamino purine (4,6-DAP) and 2,4-diamino pyrimidine (2,4-DAPy) among the observed products suggests the occurrence of an unified mechanism based on the generation of radical cyanide species (•CN). These observations contribute to outline plausible prebiotic scenarios involving 11B-boron as energy source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Saladino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Università della Tuscia Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Carota
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Università della Tuscia Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giorgia Botta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Università della Tuscia Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Michail Kapralov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, JINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology, 141980, Dubna, Russia
| | - Gennady N Timoshenko
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, JINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology, 141980, Dubna, Russia
| | - Alexei Rozanov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, JINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology, 141980, Dubna, Russia
| | - Eugene Krasavin
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, JINR's Laboratory of Radiation Biology, 141980, Dubna, Russia
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", University Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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29
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Civiš S, Szabla R, Szyja BM, Smykowski D, Ivanek O, Knížek A, Kubelík P, Šponer J, Ferus M, Šponer JE. TiO2-catalyzed synthesis of sugars from formaldehyde in extraterrestrial impacts on the early Earth. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23199. [PMID: 26979666 PMCID: PMC4793247 DOI: 10.1038/srep23199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent synthetic efforts aimed at reconstructing the beginning of life on our planet point at the plausibility of scenarios fueled by extraterrestrial energy sources. In the current work we show that beyond nucleobases the sugar components of the first informational polymers can be synthesized in this way. We demonstrate that a laser-induced high-energy chemistry combined with TiO2 catalysis readily produces a mixture of pentoses, among them ribose, arabinose and xylose. This chemistry might be highly relevant to the Late Heavy Bombardment period of Earth’s history about 4–3.85 billion years ago. In addition, we present an in-depth theoretical analysis of the most challenging step of the reaction pathway, i.e., the TiO2-catalyzed dimerization of formaldehyde leading to glycolaldehyde.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svatopluk Civiš
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Rafał Szabla
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, CZ-612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Bartłomiej M Szyja
- Inorganic Materials Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Division of Fuels Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Technology, Gdańska 7/9, 50-344 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Daniel Smykowski
- Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Wrocław University of Technology, Ul. Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław
| | - Ondřej Ivanek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Antonín Knížek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kubelík
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic.,Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, CZ-612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague 8, Czech Republic
| | - Judit E Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, CZ-612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
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30
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Šponer JE, Šponer J, Nováková O, Brabec V, Šedo O, Zdráhal Z, Costanzo G, Pino S, Saladino R, Di Mauro E. Emergence of the First Catalytic Oligonucleotides in a Formamide-Based Origin Scenario. Chemistry 2016; 22:3572-86. [PMID: 26807661 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201503906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
50 years after the historical Miller-Urey experiment, the formamide-based scenario is perhaps the most powerful concurrent hypothesis for the origin of life on our planet besides the traditional HCN-based concept. The information accumulated during the last 15 years in this topic is astonishingly growing and nowadays the formamide-based model represents one of the most complete and coherent pathways leading from simple prebiotic precursors up to the first catalytically active RNA molecules. In this work, we overview the major events of this long pathway that have emerged from recent experimental and theoretical studies, mainly concentrating on the mechanistic, methodological, and structural aspects of this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit E Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic. .,CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Nováková
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Šedo
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Giovanna Costanzo
- Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari, CNR, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Samanta Pino
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ecologiche e Biologiche, Università della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, Rome, 00185, Italy
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31
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Jeilani YA, Williams PN, Walton S, Nguyen MT. Unified reaction pathways for the prebiotic formation of RNA and DNA nucleobases. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:20177-88. [DOI: 10.1039/c6cp02686a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The reaction pathways for the prebiotic formation of nucleobases are complex and lead to the formation of a mixture of products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassin Aweis Jeilani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Spelman College
- Spelman Lane S.W
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Phoenix N. Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Spelman College
- Spelman Lane S.W
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Sofia Walton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Spelman College
- Spelman Lane S.W
- Atlanta
- USA
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32
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Nguyen HT, Jeilani YA, Hung HM, Nguyen MT. Radical Pathways for the Prebiotic Formation of Pyrimidine Bases from Formamide. J Phys Chem A 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.5b03625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yassin A. Jeilani
- Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, United States
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33
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Szabla R, Sponer JE, Sponer J, Sobolewski AL, Góra RW. Solvent effects on the photochemistry of 4-aminoimidazole-5-carbonitrile, a prebiotically plausible precursor of purines. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 16:17617-26. [PMID: 25026912 DOI: 10.1039/c4cp02074j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
4-Aminoimidazole-5-carbonitrile (AICN) was suggested as a prebiotically plausible precursor of purine nucleobases and nucleotides. Although it can be formed in a sequence of photoreactions, AICN is immune to further irradiation with UV-light. We present state-of-the-art multi-reference quantum-chemical calculations of potential energy surface cuts and conical intersection optimizations to explain the molecular mechanisms underlying the photostability of this compound. We have identified the N-H bond stretching and ring-puckering mechanisms that should be responsible for the photochemistry of AICN in the gas phase. We have further considered the photochemistry of AICN-water clusters, while including up to six explicit water molecules. The calculations reveal charge transfer to solvent followed by formation of an H3O(+) cation, both of which occur on the (1)πσ* hypersurface. Interestingly, a second proton transfer to an adjacent water molecule leads to a (1)πσ*/S0 conical intersection. We suggest that this electron-driven proton relay might be characteristic of low-lying (1)πσ* states in chromophore-water clusters. Owing to its nature, this mechanism might also be responsible for the photostability of analogous organic molecules in bulk water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Szabla
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic.
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34
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Meteorite-catalyzed syntheses of nucleosides and of other prebiotic compounds from formamide under proton irradiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E2746-55. [PMID: 25870268 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1422225112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid formamide has been irradiated by high-energy proton beams in the presence of powdered meteorites, and the products of the catalyzed resulting syntheses were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Relative to the controls (no radiation, or no formamide, or no catalyst), an extremely rich, variegate, and prebiotically relevant panel of compounds was observed. The meteorites tested were representative of the four major classes: iron, stony iron, chondrites, and achondrites. The products obtained were amino acids, carboxylic acids, nucleobases, sugars, and, most notably, four nucleosides: cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and thymidine. In accordance with theoretical studies, the detection of HCN oligomers suggests the occurrence of mechanisms based on the generation of radical cyanide species (CN·) for the synthesis of nucleobases. Given that many of the compounds obtained are key components of extant organisms, these observations contribute to outline plausible exogenous high-energy-based prebiotic scenarios and their possible boundary conditions, as discussed.
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35
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36
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High-energy chemistry of formamide: a unified mechanism of nucleobase formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 112:657-62. [PMID: 25489115 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1412072111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The coincidence of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) period and the emergence of terrestrial life about 4 billion years ago suggest that extraterrestrial impacts could contribute to the synthesis of the building blocks of the first life-giving molecules. We simulated the high-energy synthesis of nucleobases from formamide during the impact of an extraterrestrial body. A high-power laser has been used to induce the dielectric breakdown of the plasma produced by the impact. The results demonstrate that the initial dissociation of the formamide molecule could produce a large amount of highly reactive CN and NH radicals, which could further react with formamide to produce adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. Based on GC-MS, high-resolution FTIR spectroscopic results, as well as theoretical calculations, we present a comprehensive mechanistic model, which accounts for all steps taking place in the studied impact chemistry. Our findings thus demonstrate that extraterrestrial impacts, which were one order of magnitude more abundant during the LHB period than before and after, could not only destroy the existing ancient life forms, but could also contribute to the creation of biogenic molecules.
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37
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Jeilani YA, Nguyen HT, Cardelino BH, Nguyen MT. Free radical pathways for the prebiotic formation of xanthine and isoguanine from formamide. Chem Phys Lett 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2014.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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38
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Szabla R, Góra RW, Sponer J, Sponer JE. Molecular mechanism of diaminomaleonitrile to diaminofumaronitrile photoisomerization: an intermediate step in the prebiotic formation of purine nucleobases. Chemistry 2014; 20:2515-21. [PMID: 24470085 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201304224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The photoinduced isomerization of diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN) to diaminofumaronitrile (DAFN) was suggested to play a key role in the prebiotically plausible formation of purine nucleobases and nucleotides. In this work we analyze two competitive photoisomerization mechanisms on the basis of state-of-the-art quantum-chemical calculations. Even though it was suggested that this process might occur on the triplet potential-energy surface, our results indicate that the singlet reaction channel should not be disregarded either. In fact, the peaked topography of the S1 /S0 conical intersection suggests that the deexcitation should most likely occur on a sub-picosecond timescale and the singlet photoisomerization mechanism might effectively compete even with a very efficient intersystem crossing. Such a scenario is further supported by the relatively small spin-orbit coupling of the S1 and T2 states in the Franck-Condon region, which does not indicate a very effective triplet bypass for this photoreaction. Therefore, we conclude that the triplet reaction channel in DAMN might not be as prominent as was previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Szabla
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 61265 Brno (Czech Republic).
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39
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Ferus M, Michalčíková R, Shestivská V, Šponer J, Šponer JE, Civiš S. High-energy chemistry of formamide: a simpler way for nucleobase formation. J Phys Chem A 2014; 118:719-36. [PMID: 24437678 DOI: 10.1021/jp411415p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The formation of nucleobases from formamide during a high-energy density event, i.e., the impact of an extraterrestrial body into the planetary atmosphere, was studied by irradiation of formamide ice and liquid samples with a high-power laser in the presence of potential catalysts. FTIR spectroscopy, time-resolved emission spectroscopy, and GC-MS were subsequently used to monitor the dissociation of this molecule into stable molecular fragments (HCN, H2O, HNCO, H2, CO, and NH3) and unstable species (HNC, •CN, and •NH). The kinetic and thermodynamic models of the high-energy density event molecular dynamics have been suggested together with the reaction routes leading from the dissociation products to the nucleobases. In addition, using theoretical calculations, we propose a simple new reaction pathway for the formation of both pyrimidine and purine nucleobases involving •CN radical chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ferus
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Dolejškova 3, 18223 Prague 8, Czech Republic
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40
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Jeilani YA, Nguyen HT, Newallo D, Dimandja JMD, Nguyen MT. Free radical routes for prebiotic formation of DNA nucleobases from formamide. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:21084-93. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp53108b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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41
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Šponer JE, Mládek A, Ferus M, Civiš S, Šponer J. 19 Quantum chemical studies on the formamide-based origin of life. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2013.786327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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