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Kobayashi K, Mita H, Kebukawa Y, Nakagawa K, Kaneko T, Obayashi Y, Sato T, Yokoo T, Minematsu S, Fukuda H, Oguri Y, Yoda I, Yoshida S, Kanda K, Imai E, Yano H, Hashimoto H, Yokobori SI, Yamagishi A. Space Exposure of Amino Acids and Their Precursors during the Tanpopo Mission. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1479-1493. [PMID: 34793260 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids have been detected in extraterrestrial bodies such as carbonaceous chondrites (CCs), which suggests that extraterrestrial organics could be the source of the first life on Earth, and interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) or micrometeorites (MMs) are promising carriers of extraterrestrial organic carbon. Some amino acids found in CCs are amino acid precursors, but these have not been well characterized. The Tanpopo mission was conducted in Earth orbit from 2015 to 2019, and the stability of glycine (Gly), hydantoin (Hyd), isovaline (Ival), 5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin (EMHyd), and complex organics formed by proton irradiation from CO, NH3, and H2O (CAW) in space were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and/or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The target substances showed a logarithmic decomposition over 1-3 years upon space exposure. Recoveries of Gly and CAW were higher than those of Hyd, Ival, and EMHyd. Ground simulation experiments showed different results: Hyd was more stable than Gly. Solar ultraviolet light was fatal to all organics, and they required protection when carried by IDPs/MMs. Thus, complex amino acid precursors (such as CAW) were possibly more robust than simple precursors during transportation to primitive Earth. The Tanpopo 2 mission is currently being conducted to expose organics to more probable space conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensei Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hajime Mita
- Department of Life, Environment and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoko Kebukawa
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kazumichi Nakagawa
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeo Kaneko
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yumiko Obayashi
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tomohito Sato
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takuya Yokoo
- Department of Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Saaya Minematsu
- Department of Life, Environment and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | | | - Isao Yoda
- Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yoshida
- National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kanda
- University of Hyogo, Kamigori-cho, Ako-gun, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Eiichi Imai
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hajime Yano
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Hashimoto
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Yokobori
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yamagishi
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
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Le Vay K, Salibi E, Song EY, Mutschler H. Nucleic Acid Catalysis under Potential Prebiotic Conditions. Chem Asian J 2020; 15:214-230. [PMID: 31714665 PMCID: PMC7003795 DOI: 10.1002/asia.201901205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Catalysis by nucleic acids is indispensable for extant cellular life, and it is widely accepted that nucleic acid enzymes were crucial for the emergence of primitive life 3.5-4 billion years ago. However, geochemical conditions on early Earth must have differed greatly from the constant internal milieus of today's cells. In order to explore plausible scenarios for early molecular evolution, it is therefore essential to understand how different physicochemical parameters, such as temperature, pH, and ionic composition, influence nucleic acid catalysis and to explore to what extent nucleic acid enzymes can adapt to non-physiological conditions. In this article, we give an overview of the research on catalysis of nucleic acids, in particular catalytic RNAs (ribozymes) and DNAs (deoxyribozymes), under extreme and/or unusual conditions that may relate to prebiotic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Le Vay
- Biomimetic SystemsMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
| | - Elia Salibi
- Biomimetic SystemsMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
| | - Emilie Y. Song
- Biomimetic SystemsMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Biomimetic SystemsMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryAm Klopferspitz 1882152MartinsriedGermany
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Saha R, Chen IA. Effect of UV Radiation on Fluorescent RNA Aptamers' Functional and Templating Ability. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2609-2617. [PMID: 31125512 PMCID: PMC6899979 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation was likely to be an important selection pressure during the origin of life. RNA is believed to have been central to the origin of life and might form the basis for simple synthetic cells. Although photodamage of DNA has been extensively studied, photodamage is highly dependent on local molecular context, and damage to functional RNAs has been relatively under‐studied. We irradiated two fluorescent RNA aptamers and monitored the loss of activity, folding, and the kinetics of lesion accumulation. The loss of activity differed depending on the aptamer, with the Spinach2 aptamer retaining substantial activity after long exposure times. The binding pocket was particularly susceptible to damage, and melting of the duplex regions increased susceptibility; this is consistent with the view that duplex formation is protective. At the same time, susceptibility varied greatly depending on context, thus emphasizing the importance of studying many different RNAs to understand UV hardiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranajay Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Irene A Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.,Program in Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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