1
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Johnson JE, Present TM, Valentine JS. Iron: Life's primeval transition metal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318692121. [PMID: 39250667 PMCID: PMC11420189 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318692121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Modern life requires many different metal ions, which enable diverse biochemical functions. It is commonly assumed that metal ions' environmental availabilities controlled the evolution of early life. We argue that evolution can only explore the chemistry that life encounters, and fortuitous chemical interactions between metal ions and biological compounds can only be selected for if they first occur sufficiently frequently. We calculated maximal transition metal ion concentrations in the ancient ocean, determining that the amounts of biologically important transition metal ions were orders of magnitude lower than ferrous iron. Under such conditions, primitive bioligands would predominantly interact with Fe(II). While interactions with other metals in certain environments may have provided evolutionary opportunities, the biochemical capacities of Fe(II), Fe-S clusters, or the plentiful magnesium and calcium could have satisfied all functions needed by early life. Primitive organisms could have used Fe(II) exclusively for their transition metal ion requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jena E Johnson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Theodore M Present
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Joan Selverstone Valentine
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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2
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Suzuki S, Ishii S, Chadwick GL, Tanaka Y, Kouzuma A, Watanabe K, Inagaki F, Albertsen M, Nielsen PH, Nealson KH. A non-methanogenic archaeon within the order Methanocellales. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4858. [PMID: 38871712 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48185-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Serpentinization, a geochemical process found on modern and ancient Earth, provides an ultra-reducing environment that can support microbial methanogenesis and acetogenesis. Several groups of archaea, such as the order Methanocellales, are characterized by their ability to produce methane. Here, we generate metagenomic sequences from serpentinized springs in The Cedars, California, and construct a circularized metagenome-assembled genome of a Methanocellales archaeon, termed Met12, that lacks essential methanogenesis genes. The genome includes genes for an acetyl-CoA pathway, but lacks genes encoding methanogenesis enzymes such as methyl-coenzyme M reductase, heterodisulfide reductases and hydrogenases. In situ transcriptomic analyses reveal high expression of a multi-heme c-type cytochrome, and heterologous expression of this protein in a model bacterium demonstrates that it is capable of accepting electrons. Our results suggest that Met12, within the order Methanocellales, is not a methanogen but a CO2-reducing, electron-fueled acetogen without electron bifurcation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shino Suzuki
- Geobiology and Astrobiology Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Saitama, Japan.
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
- School of Physical Sciences, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine and Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Shun'ichi Ishii
- Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine and Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Grayson L Chadwick
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Yugo Tanaka
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kouzuma
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuya Watanabe
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumio Inagaki
- Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC), JAMSTEC, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Earth Science, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Mads Albertsen
- Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Per H Nielsen
- Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Kenneth H Nealson
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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3
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Vessey CJ, Raudsepp MJ, Patel AS, Wilson S, Harrison AL, Chen N, Chen W. Influence of Iron Substitution and Solution Composition on Brucite Carbonation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7802-7813. [PMID: 38578665 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Carbon neutral or negative mining can potentially be achieved by integrating carbon mineralization processes into the mine design, operations, and closure plans. Brucite [Mg(OH)2] is a highly reactive mineral present in some ultramafic mine tailings with the potential to be rapidly carbonated and can contain significant amounts of ferrous iron [Fe(II)] substituted for Mg; however, the influence of this substitution on carbon mineralization reaction products and efficiency has not been thoroughly constrained. To better assess the efficiency of carbon storage in brucite-bearing tailings, we performed carbonation experiments using synthetic Fe(II)-substituted brucite (0, 6, 23, and 44 mol % Fe) slurries in oxic and anoxic conditions with 10% CO2. Additionally, the carbonation process was evaluated using different background electrolytes (NaCl, Na2SO4, and Na4SiO4). Our results indicate that carbonation efficiency decreases with increasing Fe(II) substitution. In oxic conditions, precipitation of ferrihydrite [Fe10IIIO14(OH)2] and layered double hydroxides {e.g., pyroaurite [Mg6Fe2III(OH)16CO3·4H2O]} limited carbonation efficiency. Carbonation in anoxic environments led to the formation of Fe(II)-substituted nesquehonite (MgCO3·3H2O) and dypingite [Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·∼5H2O], as well as chukanovite [Fe2IICO3(OH)2] in the case of 23 and 44 mol % Fe(II)-brucite carbonation. Carbonation efficiencies were consistent between chloride- and sulfate-rich solutions but declined in the presence of dissolved Si due to the formation of amorphous SiO2·nH2O and Fe-Mg silicates. Overall, our results indicate that carbonation efficiency and the long-term fate of stored CO2 may depend on the amount of substituted Fe(II) in both feedstock minerals and carbonate products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colton J Vessey
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Maija J Raudsepp
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Avni S Patel
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Sasha Wilson
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Anna L Harrison
- Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1 + 3, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Ning Chen
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2 V3, Canada
| | - Weifeng Chen
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2 V3, Canada
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4
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Austrheim H, Hu D, Ulven OI, Andersen NH. Formation of Natural Magnesium Silica Hydrate (M-S-H) and Magnesium Alumina Silica Hydrate (M-A-S-H) Cement. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:994. [PMID: 38473467 DOI: 10.3390/ma17050994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Occurrences of natural magnesium alumina silicate hydrate (M-(A)-S-H) cement are present in Feragen and Leka, in eastern and western Trøndelag Norway, respectively. Both occurrences are in the subarctic climate zone and form in glacial till and moraine material deposited on ultramafic rock during the Weichselian glaciation. Weathering of serpentinized peridotite dissolves brucite and results in an alkaline fluid with a relatively high pH which subsequently reacts with the felsic minerals of the till (quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar) to form a cement consisting of an amorphous material or a mixture of nanocrystalline Mg-rich phyllosilicates, including illite. The presence of plagioclase in the till results in the enrichment of alumina in the cement, i.e., forms M-A-S-H instead of the M-S-H cement. Dissolution of quartz results in numerous etch pits and negative quartz crystals filled with M-A-S-H cement. Where the quartz dissolution is faster than the cement precipitation, a honeycomb-like texture is formed. Compositionally, the cemented till (tillite) contains more MgO and has a higher loss of ignition than the till, suggesting that the cement is formed by a MgO fluid that previously reacted with the peridotite. The M-(A)-S-H cemented till represents a new type of duricrust, coined magsilcrete. The study of natural Mg cement provides information on peridotites as a Mg source for Mg cement and as a feedstock for CO2 sequestration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håkon Austrheim
- The Njord Center, Department of Geology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Depan Hu
- College of Geophysics, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
- Geoenvironment Monitoring Station in Chengdu, Chengdu 610059, China
- Observation and Research Station of Chengdu Geological Hazards, Ministry of Natural Resources, Chengdu 610042, China
| | - Ole Ivar Ulven
- The Njord Center, Department of Geology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Niels H Andersen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1048, Blindern, 0371 Oslo, Norway
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Rempfert KR, Kraus EA, Nothaft DB, Dildar N, Spear JR, Sepúlveda J, Templeton AS. Intact polar lipidome and membrane adaptations of microbial communities inhabiting serpentinite-hosted fluids. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1198786. [PMID: 38029177 PMCID: PMC10667739 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1198786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of hydrogen and reduced carbon compounds during serpentinization provides sustained energy for microorganisms on Earth, and possibly on other extraterrestrial bodies (e.g., Mars, icy satellites). However, the geochemical conditions that arise from water-rock reaction also challenge the known limits of microbial physiology, such as hyperalkaline pH, limited electron acceptors and inorganic carbon. Because cell membranes act as a primary barrier between a cell and its environment, lipids are a vital component in microbial acclimation to challenging physicochemical conditions. To probe the diversity of cell membrane lipids produced in serpentinizing settings and identify membrane adaptations to this environment, we conducted the first comprehensive intact polar lipid (IPL) biomarker survey of microbial communities inhabiting the subsurface at a terrestrial site of serpentinization. We used an expansive, custom environmental lipid database that expands the application of targeted and untargeted lipodomics in the study of microbial and biogeochemical processes. IPLs extracted from serpentinite-hosted fluid communities were comprised of >90% isoprenoidal and non-isoprenoidal diether glycolipids likely produced by archaeal methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Phospholipids only constituted ~1% of the intact polar lipidome. In addition to abundant diether glycolipids, betaine and trimethylated-ornithine aminolipids and glycosphingolipids were also detected, indicating pervasive membrane modifications in response to phosphate limitation. The carbon oxidation state of IPL backbones was positively correlated with the reduction potential of fluids, which may signify an energy conservation strategy for lipid synthesis. Together, these data suggest microorganisms inhabiting serpentinites possess a unique combination of membrane adaptations that allow for their survival in polyextreme environments. The persistence of IPLs in fluids beyond the presence of their source organisms, as indicated by 16S rRNA genes and transcripts, is promising for the detection of extinct life in serpentinizing settings through lipid biomarker signatures. These data contribute new insights into the complexity of lipid structures generated in actively serpentinizing environments and provide valuable context to aid in the reconstruction of past microbial activity from fossil lipid records of terrestrial serpentinites and the search for biosignatures elsewhere in our solar system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin R. Rempfert
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Emily A. Kraus
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Daniel B. Nothaft
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Nadia Dildar
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - John R. Spear
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
- Department of Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Julio Sepúlveda
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Alexis S. Templeton
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
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6
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Chogani A, Plümper O. Decoding the nanoscale porosity in serpentinites from multidimensional electron microscopy and discrete element modelling. CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY. BEITRAGE ZUR MINERALOGIE UND PETROLOGIE 2023; 178:78. [PMID: 38616804 PMCID: PMC11008076 DOI: 10.1007/s00410-023-02062-4] [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: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Serpentinites, widespread in Earth's lithosphere, exhibit inherent nanoporosity that may significantly impact their geochemical behaviour. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the characteristics, scale dependence, and potential implications of nanoporosity in lizardite-dominated serpentinites. Through a combination of multidimensional imaging techniques and molecular-dynamics-based discrete element modelling, we reveal that serpentinites function as nanoporous media with pore sizes predominantly less than 100 nm. Crystallographic relationships between olivine, serpentine, and nanoporosity are explored, indicating a lack of significant correlations. Instead, stochastic growth and random packing of serpentine grains within mesh cores may result in interconnected porosity. The analysis of pore morphology suggests that the irregular pore shapes align with the crystal form of serpentine minerals. Furthermore, the nanoporosity within brucite-rich layers at the serpentine-olivine interface is attributed to delamination along weak van der Waals planes, while pore formation within larger brucite domains likely results from low-temperature alteration processes. The fractal nature of the pore size distribution and the potential interconnectivity of porosity across different scales further support the presence of a pervasive nanoporous network within serpentinites. Confinement within these nanopores may introduce unique emergent properties, potentially influencing fluid transport, mineral solubility, and chemical reactions. As such, these processes may have profound implications for the geochemical evolution of serpentinites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Chogani
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Oliver Plümper
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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7
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Fones EM, Templeton AS, Mogk DW, Boyd ES. Transformation of low molecular weight organic acids by microbial endoliths in subsurface mafic and ultramafic igneous rock. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4137-4152. [PMID: 35590457 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of work indicates that continental subsurface rocks host a substantial portion of the Earth's biosphere. However, the activities of microbial cells inhabiting pore spaces and microfractures in subsurface rocks remain underexplored. Here, we develop and optimize microcosm assays to detect organic acid transformation activities of cells residing in mafic to ultramafic igneous rocks. Application of this assay to gabbro core from the Stillwater Mine, Montana, USA, revealed maximal methane production from acetate at temperatures approximating that of the mine. Controls show that these activities are not due to contamination introduced during drilling, exhumation, or laboratory processing of the core. The assay was then applied to rocks cored from the Samail Ophiolite, Oman, which is undergoing low temperature serpentinization. Production of i) carbon dioxide from acetate and formate and ii) methane from formate were detected in a dunite/harzburgite rock core interfacing pH 9.6 waters, and estimates of microbial activities were up to three orders of magnitude higher in the rock core pore space than in corresponding waters. The detection of endolithic microbial activities in igneous rocks has implications for life detection on other planetary bodies where similar rock types prevail, such as Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Fones
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717
| | - Alexis S Templeton
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309
| | - David W Mogk
- Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717
| | - Eric S Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717
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8
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Song H, Ou X, Han B, Deng H, Zhang W, Tian C, Cai C, Lu A, Lin Z, Chai L. An Overlooked Natural Hydrogen Evolution Pathway: Ni
2+
Boosting H
2
O Reduction by Fe(OH)
2
Oxidation during Low‐Temperature Serpentinization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202110653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Han Song
- School of Metallurgy and Environment Central South University Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling South China University of Technology Guangzhou Guangdong 510006 China
| | - Xinwen Ou
- School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling South China University of Technology Guangzhou Guangdong 510006 China
| | - Bin Han
- School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling South China University of Technology Guangzhou Guangdong 510006 China
| | - Haoyu Deng
- School of Metallurgy and Environment Central South University Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution Changsha Hunan 410083 China
| | - Wenchao Zhang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment Central South University Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution Changsha Hunan 410083 China
| | - Chen Tian
- School of Metallurgy and Environment Central South University Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution Changsha Hunan 410083 China
| | - Chunfang Cai
- Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100029 China
| | - Anhuai Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function School of Earth and Space Sciences Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Zhang Lin
- School of Metallurgy and Environment Central South University Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling South China University of Technology Guangzhou Guangdong 510006 China
| | - Liyuan Chai
- School of Metallurgy and Environment Central South University Changsha Hunan 410083 China
- Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution Changsha Hunan 410083 China
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9
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Song H, Ou X, Han B, Deng H, Zhang W, Tian C, Cai C, Lu A, Lin Z, Chai L. An Overlooked Natural Hydrogen Evolution Pathway: Ni 2+ Boosting H 2 O Reduction by Fe(OH) 2 Oxidation during Low-Temperature Serpentinization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:24054-24058. [PMID: 34519405 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202110653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Natural hydrogen (H2 ) has gained considerable attentions as a renewable energy resource to mitigate the globally increasing environmental concerns. Low-temperature serpentinization (<200 °C) as a typical water-rock reaction is a major source of the natural H2 . However, the reaction mechanism and the controlling step to product H2 remained unclear, which hinders the further utilization of natural H2 . Herein, we demonstrated that the H2 production rate could be determined by the Fe(OH)2 oxidation during low-temperature serpentinization. Moreover, the co-existence of Ni2+ could largely enhance the H2 production kinetics. With the addition of only 1 % Ni2+ , the H2 production rate was remarkably enhanced by about two orders of magnitude at 90 °C. D2 O isotopic experiment and theoretical calculations revealed that the enhanced H2 production kinetics could be attributed to the catalytic role of Ni2+ to promote the reduction of H2 O.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Song
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Xinwen Ou
- School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Bin Han
- School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Haoyu Deng
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China
| | - Wenchao Zhang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China
| | - Chen Tian
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China
| | - Chunfang Cai
- Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Anhuai Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhang Lin
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,School of Environment and Energy, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Liyuan Chai
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China.,Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, Hunan, 410083, China
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10
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Rasmussen B, Muhling J, Fischer W. Greenalite Nanoparticles in Alkaline Vent Plumes as Templates for the Origin of Life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:246-259. [PMID: 33085498 PMCID: PMC7876356 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Mineral templates are thought to have played keys roles in the emergence of life. Drawing on recent findings from 3.45-2.45 billion-year-old iron-rich hydrothermal sedimentary rocks, we hypothesize that greenalite (Fe3Si2O5(OH)4) was a readily available mineral in hydrothermal environments, where it may have acted as a template and catalyst in polymerization, vesicle formation and encapsulation, and protocell replication. We argue that venting of dissolved Fe2+ and SiO2(aq) into the anoxic Hadean ocean favored the precipitation of nanometer-sized particles of greenalite in hydrothermal plumes, producing a continuous flow of free-floating clay templates that traversed the ocean. The mixing of acidic, metal-bearing hydrothermal plumes from volcanic ridge systems with more alkaline, organic-bearing plumes generated by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks brought together essential building blocks for life in solutions conducive to greenalite precipitation. We suggest that the extreme disorder in the greenalite crystal lattice, producing structural modulations resembling parallel corrugations (∼22 Å wide) on particle edges, promoted the assembly and alignment of linear RNA-type molecules (∼20 Å diameter). In alkaline solutions, greenalite nanoparticles could have accelerated the growth of membrane vesicles, while their encapsulation allowed RNA-type molecules to continue to form on the mineral templates, potentially enhancing the growth and division of primitive cell membranes. Once self-replicating RNA evolved, the mineral template became redundant, and protocells were free to replicate and roam the ocean realm.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Rasmussen
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - J.R. Muhling
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - W.W. Fischer
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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11
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McCaig AM, Früh-Green GL, Kelemen P, Teagle DAH. Serpentinite in the Earth system. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20190332. [PMID: 31902338 PMCID: PMC7015303 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. McCaig
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Peter Kelemen
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY, USA
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Damon A. H. Teagle
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
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Fryer P, Wheat CG, Williams T, Kelley C, Johnson K, Ryan J, Kurz W, Shervais J, Albers E, Bekins B, Debret B, Deng J, Dong Y, Eickenbusch P, Frery E, Ichiyama Y, Johnston R, Kevorkian R, Magalhaes V, Mantovanelli S, Menapace W, Menzies C, Michibayashi K, Moyer C, Mullane K, Park JW, Price R, Sissmann O, Suzuki S, Takai K, Walter B, Zhang R, Amon D, Glickson D, Pomponi S. Mariana serpentinite mud volcanism exhumes subducted seamount materials: implications for the origin of life. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20180425. [PMID: 31902339 PMCID: PMC7015305 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2018.0425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The subduction of seamounts and ridge features at convergent plate boundaries plays an important role in the deformation of the overriding plate and influences geochemical cycling and associated biological processes. Active serpentinization of forearc mantle and serpentinite mud volcanism on the Mariana forearc (between the trench and active volcanic arc) provides windows on subduction processes. Here, we present (1) the first observation of an extensive exposure of an undeformed Cretaceous seamount currently being subducted at the Mariana Trench inner slope; (2) vertical deformation of the forearc region related to subduction of Pacific Plate seamounts and thickened crust; (3) recovered Ocean Drilling Program and International Ocean Discovery Program cores of serpentinite mudflows that confirm exhumation of various Pacific Plate lithologies, including subducted reef limestone; (4) petrologic, geochemical and paleontological data from the cores that show that Pacific Plate seamount exhumation covers greater spatial and temporal extents; (5) the inference that microbial communities associated with serpentinite mud volcanism may also be exhumed from the subducted plate seafloor and/or seamounts; and (6) the implications for effects of these processes with regard to evolution of life. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Serpentine in the Earth system'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Fryer
- School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Trevor Williams
- International Ocean Discovery Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Christopher Kelley
- School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Kevin Johnson
- School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Jeffrey Ryan
- School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Walter Kurz
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Graz, NAWI Graz Geocenter, Institute of Earth Sciences, Graz, Austria
| | - John Shervais
- Department of Geology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Elmar Albers
- Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Barbara Bekins
- United States Geological Survey, NASA Ames, Mountain View, CA, USA
| | | | - Jianghong Deng
- School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhui Dong
- Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Philip Eickenbusch
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Emanuelle Frery
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Yuji Ichiyama
- Department of Earth Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
| | - Raymond Johnston
- School of Geosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Richard Kevorkian
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Vitor Magalhaes
- Por Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Rua C ao Aeroporto, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Walter Menapace
- MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Catriona Menzies
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Katsuyoshi Michibayashi
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
| | - Craig Moyer
- Biology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Kelli Mullane
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jung-Woo Park
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Roy Price
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Olivier Sissmann
- IFP Energies Nouvelles, 92500 Rueil-Malmaison, Ile-de-France, France
| | - Shino Suzuki
- Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture, Japan
| | - Ken Takai
- Department of Subsurface Geobiological Analysis and Research (D-SUGAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
| | - Bastien Walter
- GeoResources, Universite de Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, Cedex, France
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Microbes and Exospheres, Xiamen University, Xiang'an Campus, Xiamen, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Diva Amon
- Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, Cromwell Road, London, UK
| | - Deborah Glickson
- Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shirley Pomponi
- NOAA Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
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