1
|
Cockell CS, Hallsworth JE, McMahon S, Kane SR, Higgins PM. The Concept of Life on Venus Informs the Concept of Habitability. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38800952 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
An enduring question in astrobiology is how we assess extraterrestrial environments as being suitable for life. We suggest that the most reliable assessments of the habitability of extraterrestrial environments are made with respect to the empirically determined limits to known life. We discuss qualitatively distinct categories of habitability: empirical habitability that is constrained by the observed limits to biological activity; habitability sensu stricto, which is defined with reference to the known or unknown limits to the activity of all known organisms; and habitability sensu lato (habitability in the broadest sense), which is circumscribed by the limit of all possible life in the universe, which is the most difficult (and perhaps impossible) to determine. We use the cloud deck of Venus, which is temperate but incompatible with known life, as an example to elaborate and hypothesize on these limits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sean McMahon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R Kane
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Peter M Higgins
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schaible MJ, Szeinbaum N, Bozdag GO, Chou L, Grefenstette N, Colón-Santos S, Rodriguez LE, Styczinski MJ, Thweatt JL, Todd ZR, Vázquez-Salazar A, Adams A, Araújo MN, Altair T, Borges S, Burton D, Campillo-Balderas JA, Cangi EM, Caro T, Catalano E, Chen K, Conlin PL, Cooper ZS, Fisher TM, Fos SM, Garcia A, Glaser DM, Harman CE, Hermis NY, Hooks M, Johnson-Finn K, Lehmer O, Hernández-Morales R, Hughson KHG, Jácome R, Jia TZ, Marlow JJ, McKaig J, Mierzejewski V, Muñoz-Velasco I, Nural C, Oliver GC, Penev PI, Raj CG, Roche TP, Sabuda MC, Schaible GA, Sevgen S, Sinhadc P, Steller LH, Stelmach K, Tarnas J, Tavares F, Trubl G, Vidaurri M, Vincent L, Weber JM, Weng MM, Wilpiszeki RL, Young A. Chapter 1: The Astrobiology Primer 3.0. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S4-S39. [PMID: 38498816 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The Astrobiology Primer 3.0 (ABP3.0) is a concise introduction to the field of astrobiology for students and others who are new to the field of astrobiology. It provides an entry into the broader materials in this supplementary issue of Astrobiology and an overview of the investigations and driving hypotheses that make up this interdisciplinary field. The content of this chapter was adapted from the other 10 articles in this supplementary issue and thus represents the contribution of all the authors who worked on these introductory articles. The content of this chapter is not exhaustive and represents the topics that the authors found to be the most important and compelling in a dynamic and changing field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Micah J Schaible
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nadia Szeinbaum
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - G Ozan Bozdag
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Luoth Chou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Natalie Grefenstette
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephanie Colón-Santos
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Laura E Rodriguez
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - M J Styczinski
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thweatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zoe R Todd
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alyssa Adams
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - M N Araújo
- Biochemistry Department, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Thiago Altair
- Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | | | - Dana Burton
- Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | | | - Eryn M Cangi
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Tristan Caro
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Enrico Catalano
- Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, The BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Kimberly Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Peter L Conlin
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Z S Cooper
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Theresa M Fisher
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Santiago Mestre Fos
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amanda Garcia
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - D M Glaser
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Chester E Harman
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ninos Y Hermis
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - M Hooks
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - K Johnson-Finn
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Owen Lehmer
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ricardo Hernández-Morales
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kynan H G Hughson
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tony Z Jia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jeffrey J Marlow
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jordan McKaig
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Veronica Mierzejewski
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ceren Nural
- Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gina C Oliver
- Department of Geology, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Petar I Penev
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chinmayee Govinda Raj
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tyler P Roche
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mary C Sabuda
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - George A Schaible
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Serhat Sevgen
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Pritvik Sinhadc
- BEYOND: Center For Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
- Dubai College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Luke H Steller
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | - Kamil Stelmach
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - J Tarnas
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Frank Tavares
- Space Enabled Research Group, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
| | - Monica Vidaurri
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Lena Vincent
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jessica M Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Amber Young
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Grefenstette N, Chou L, Colón-Santos S, Fisher TM, Mierzejewski V, Nural C, Sinhadc P, Vidaurri M, Vincent L, Weng MM. Chapter 9: Life as We Don't Know It. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S186-S201. [PMID: 38498819 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
While Earth contains the only known example of life in the universe, it is possible that life elsewhere is fundamentally different from what we are familiar with. There is an increased recognition in the astrobiology community that the search for life should steer away from terran-specific biosignatures to those that are more inclusive to all life-forms. To start exploring the space of possibilities that life could occupy, we can try to dissociate life from the chemistry that composes it on Earth by envisioning how different life elsewhere could be in composition, lifestyle, medium, and form, and by exploring how the general principles that govern living systems on Earth might be found in different forms and environments across the Solar System. Exotic life-forms could exist on Mars or Venus, or icy moons like Europa and Enceladus, or even as a shadow biosphere on Earth. New perspectives on agnostic biosignature detection have also begun to emerge, allowing for a broader and more inclusive approach to seeking exotic life with unknown chemistry that is distinct from life as we know it on Earth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Grefenstette
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Luoth Chou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Theresa M Fisher
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Ceren Nural
- Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pritvik Sinhadc
- BEYOND: Center For Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
- Dubai College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Monica Vidaurri
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Howard University, DC, USA
| | - Lena Vincent
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Glidden A, Seager S, Petkowski JJ, Ono S. Can Isotopologues Be Used as Biosignature Gases in Exoplanet Atmospheres? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2325. [PMID: 38137926 PMCID: PMC10744769 DOI: 10.3390/life13122325] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Isotopologue ratios are anticipated to be one of the most promising signs of life that can be observed remotely. On Earth, carbon isotopes have been used for decades as evidence of modern and early metabolic processes. In fact, carbon isotopes may be the oldest evidence for life on Earth, though there are alternative geological processes that can lead to the same magnitude of fractionation. However, using isotopologues as biosignature gases in exoplanet atmospheres presents several challenges. Most significantly, we will only have limited knowledge of the underlying abiotic carbon reservoir of an exoplanet. Atmospheric carbon isotope ratios will thus have to be compared against the local interstellar medium or, better yet, their host star. A further substantial complication is the limited precision of remote atmospheric measurements using spectroscopy. The various metabolic processes that cause isotope fractionation cause less fractionation than anticipated measurement precision (biological fractionation is typically 2 to 7%). While this level of precision is easily reachable in the laboratory or with special in situ instruments, it is out of reach of current telescope technology to measure isotope ratios for terrestrial exoplanet atmospheres. Thus, gas isotopologues are poor biosignatures for exoplanets given our current and foreseeable technological limitations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Glidden
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sara Seager
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Janusz J. Petkowski
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- JJ Scientific, Mazowieckie, 02-792 Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Shuhei Ono
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rücker C, Winkelmann M, Kümmerer K. Are Si-C bonds formed in the environment and/or in technical microbiological systems? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:91492-91500. [PMID: 37486465 PMCID: PMC10439844 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28528-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Organosiloxanes are industrially produced worldwide in millions of tons per annum and are widely used by industry, professionals, and consumers. Some of these compounds are PBT (persistent, biaccumulative and toxic) or vPvB (very persistent and very bioaccumulative). If organosiloxanes react at all in the environment, Si-O bonds are hydrolyzed or Si-C bonds are oxidatively cleaved, to result finally in silica and carbon dioxide. In strong contrast and very unexpectedly, recently formation of new Si-CH3 bonds from siloxanes and methane by the action of microorganisms under mild ambient conditions was proposed (in landfills or digesters) and even reported (in a biotrickling filter, 30 °C). This is very surprising in view of the harsh conditions required in industrial Si-CH3 synthesis. Here, we scrutinized the pertinent papers, with the result that evidence put forward for Si-C bond formation from siloxanes and methane in technical microbiological systems is invalid, suggesting such reactions will not occur in the environment where they are even less favored by conditions. The claim of such reactions followed from erroneous calculations and misinterpretation of experimental results. We propose an alternative explanation of the experimental observations, i.e., the putative observation of such reactions was presumably due to confusion of two compounds, hexamethyldisiloxane and dimethylsilanediol, that elute at similar retention times from standard GC columns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Rücker
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
| | - Magnus Winkelmann
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Kümmerer
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fotie J, Matherne CM, Wroblewski JE. Silicon switch: Carbon-silicon Bioisosteric replacement as a strategy to modulate the selectivity, physicochemical, and drug-like properties in anticancer pharmacophores. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 102:235-254. [PMID: 37029092 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Bioisosterism is one of the leading strategies in medicinal chemistry for the design and modification of drugs, consisting in replacing an atom or a substituent with a different atom or a group with similar chemical properties and an inherent biocompatibility. The objective of such an exercise is to produce a diversity of molecules with similar behavior while enhancing the desire biological and pharmacological properties, without inducing significant changes to the chemical framework. In drug discovery and development, the optimization of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity (ADMETox) profile is of paramount importance. Silicon appears to be the right choice as a carbon isostere because they possess very similar intrinsic properties. However, the replacement of a carbon by a silicon atom in pharmaceuticals has proven to result in improved efficacy and selectivity, while enhancing physicochemical properties and bioavailability. The current review discusses how silicon has been strategically introduced to modulate drug-like properties of anticancer agents, from a molecular design strategy, biological activity, computational modeling, and structure-activity relationships perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean Fotie
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
| | - Caitlyn M Matherne
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jordan E Wroblewski
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Michaelian K. The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Natural Selection: From Molecules to the Biosphere. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:1059. [PMID: 37510006 PMCID: PMC10378079 DOI: 10.3390/e25071059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary theory suggests that the origin, persistence, and evolution of biology is driven by the "natural selection" of characteristics improving the differential reproductive success of the organism in the given environment. The theory, however, lacks physical foundation, and, therefore, at best, can only be considered a heuristic narrative, of some utility for assimilating the biological and paleontological data at the level of the organism. On deeper analysis, it becomes apparent that this narrative is plagued with problems and paradoxes. Alternatively, non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory, derived from physical law, provides a physical foundation for describing material interaction with its environment at all scales. Here we describe a "natural thermodynamic selection" of characteristics of structures (or processes), based stochastically on increases in the global rate of dissipation of the prevailing solar spectrum. Different mechanisms of thermodynamic selection are delineated for the different biotic-abiotic levels, from the molecular level at the origin of life, up to the level of the present biosphere with non-linear coupling of biotic and abiotic processes. At the levels of the organism and the biosphere, the non-equilibrium thermodynamic description of evolution resembles, respectively, the Darwinian and Gaia descriptions, although the underlying mechanisms and the objective function of selection are fundamentally very different.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karo Michaelian
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Application of Radiation, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Interior de la Investigación Científica, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City C.P. 04510, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rücker C, Grabitz E, Kümmerer K. Are Si-C bonds cleaved by microorganisms? A critical review on biodegradation of methylsiloxanes. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 321:137858. [PMID: 36642148 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Methylsiloxanes, compounds that contain H3C-Si-O subunits in their molecular structure, are emerging ubiquitous pollutants now detected in many environmental compartments. These compounds and generally Si-C bonds do not occur in living nature, but are industrially produced worldwide in millions of tons per annum and are widely used, resulting in their release to the environment. It is an open question whether or to what extent microorganisms are able to decompose these compounds. The presence of methylsiloxanes in many biogases adds to the economic relevance of this question. We here review and critically discuss, for the first time, the evidence obtained for and against degradation of methylsiloxanes by microorganisms, and in particular for microbial cleavage of Si-CH3 bonds. As a result, no convincing demonstration of Si-C cleavage by native environmental microorganisms has been found.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Rücker
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany.
| | - Elisa Grabitz
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Kümmerer
- Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, D-21335, Lüneburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Juhas M. The World of Microorganisms. BRIEF LESSONS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2023:1-16. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-29544-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
|
10
|
Atomic Details of Biomineralization Proteins Inspiring Protein Design and Reengineering for Functional Biominerals. CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemistry4030059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biominerals are extraordinary materials that provide organisms with a variety of functions to support life. The synthesis of biominerals and organization at the macroscopic level is a consequence of the interactions of these materials with proteins. The association of biominerals and proteins is very ancient and has sparked a wealth of research across biological, medical and material sciences. Calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite, and silica represent widespread natural biominerals. The atomic details of the interface between macromolecules and these biominerals is very intriguing from a chemical perspective, considering the association of chemical entities that are structurally different. With this review I provide an overview of the available structural studies of biomineralization proteins, explored from the Protein Data Bank (wwPDB) archive and scientific literature, and of how these studies are inspiring the design and engineering of proteins able to synthesize novel biominerals. The progression of this review from classical template proteins to silica polymerization seeks to benefit researchers involved in various interdisciplinary aspects of a biomineralization project, who need background information and a quick update on advances in the field. Lessons learned from structural studies are exemplary and will guide new projects for the imaging of new hybrid biomineral/protein superstructures at the atomic level.
Collapse
|
11
|
Stratospheric Chemical Lifetime of Aviation Fuel Incomplete Combustion Products. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13081209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The stratosphere contains haze rich in sulfuric acid, which plays a significant role in stratospheric chemistry and in global climate. Commercial aircraft deposit significant amounts of incomplete combustion products into the lower stratosphere. We have studied the stability of these incomplete combustion products to reaction with sulfuric acid, using a predictive model based on experimental reaction kinetics. We demonstrate that sulfuric acid chemistry is likely to be a significant component of the chemistry of organics in the stratosphere. We find that at least 25 of the 40 known incomplete combustion products from aviation fuel have lifetimes to reaction with aerosol sulfuric acid of at least months. We estimate that ~109 kg of long-lived products could be deposited per year in the lower stratosphere. We suggest that the high molecular weight organic compounds formed as incomplete combustion products of commercial long-haul aviation could play a significant role in the stratosphere.
Collapse
|
12
|
Kminek G, Benardini JN, Brenker FE, Brooks T, Burton AS, Dhaniyala S, Dworkin JP, Fortman JL, Glamoclija M, Grady MM, Graham HV, Haruyama J, Kieft TL, Koopmans M, McCubbin FM, Meyer MA, Mustin C, Onstott TC, Pearce N, Pratt LM, Sephton MA, Siljeström S, Sugahara H, Suzuki S, Suzuki Y, van Zuilen M, Viso M. COSPAR Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF). ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:S186-S216. [PMID: 35653292 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Sample Safety Assessment Framework (SSAF) has been developed by a COSPAR appointed Working Group. The objective of the sample safety assessment would be to evaluate whether samples returned from Mars could be harmful for Earth's systems (e.g., environment, biosphere, geochemical cycles). During the Working Group's deliberations, it became clear that a comprehensive assessment to predict the effects of introducing life in new environments or ecologies is difficult and practically impossible, even for terrestrial life and certainly more so for unknown extraterrestrial life. To manage expectations, the scope of the SSAF was adjusted to evaluate only whether the presence of martian life can be excluded in samples returned from Mars. If the presence of martian life cannot be excluded, a Hold & Critical Review must be established to evaluate the risk management measures and decide on the next steps. The SSAF starts from a positive hypothesis (there is martian life in the samples), which is complementary to the null-hypothesis (there is no martian life in the samples) typically used for science. Testing the positive hypothesis includes four elements: (1) Bayesian statistics, (2) subsampling strategy, (3) test sequence, and (4) decision criteria. The test sequence capability covers self-replicating and non-self-replicating biology and biologically active molecules. Most of the investigations associated with the SSAF would need to be carried out within biological containment. The SSAF is described in sufficient detail to support planning activities for a Sample Receiving Facility (SRF) and for preparing science announcements, while at the same time acknowledging that further work is required before a detailed Sample Safety Assessment Protocol (SSAP) can be developed. The three major open issues to be addressed to optimize and implement the SSAF are (1) setting a value for the level of assurance to effectively exclude the presence of martian life in the samples, (2) carrying out an analogue test program, and (3) acquiring relevant contamination knowledge from all Mars Sample Return (MSR) flight and ground elements. Although the SSAF was developed specifically for assessing samples from Mars in the context of the currently planned NASA-ESA MSR Campaign, this framework and the basic safety approach are applicable to any other Mars sample return mission concept, with minor adjustments in the execution part related to the specific nature of the samples to be returned. The SSAF is also considered a sound basis for other COSPAR Planetary Protection Category V, restricted Earth return missions beyond Mars. It is anticipated that the SSAF will be subject to future review by the various MSR stakeholders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Kminek
- European Space Agency, Mars Exploration Group, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - James N Benardini
- NASA Headquarters, Office of Planetary Protection, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Frank E Brenker
- Goethe University, Department of Geoscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Timothy Brooks
- UK Health Security Agency, Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Salisbury, UK
| | - Aaron S Burton
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Suresh Dhaniyala
- Clarkson University, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Potsdam, New York, USA
| | - Jason P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Fortman
- Security Programs, Engineering Biology Research Consortium, Emeryville, USA
| | - Mihaela Glamoclija
- Rutgers University, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Monica M Grady
- The Open University, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Heather V Graham
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Astrochemistry Laboratory, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
| | - Junichi Haruyama
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Chofu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas L Kieft
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Biology Department, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
| | - Marion Koopmans
- Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Viroscience, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Francis M McCubbin
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael A Meyer
- NASA Headquarters, Planetary Science Division, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Tullis C Onstott
- Princeton University, Department of Geosciences, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Neil Pearce
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Department of Medical Statistics, London, UK
| | - Lisa M Pratt
- Indiana University Bloomington, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Emeritus, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Mark A Sephton
- Imperial College London, Department of Earth Science & Engineering, London, UK
| | - Sandra Siljeström
- RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden, Department of Methodology, Textiles and Medical Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haruna Sugahara
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shino Suzuki
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yohey Suzuki
- University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark van Zuilen
- Université de Paris, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France
- European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM), CNRS-UMR6538 Laboratoire Geo-Ocean, Plouzané, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wong ML, Bartlett S. Asymptotic burnout and homeostatic awakening: a possible solution to the Fermi paradox? J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220029. [PMID: 35506212 PMCID: PMC9065981 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies show that city metrics having to do with growth, productivity and overall energy consumption scale superlinearly, attributing this to the social nature of cities. Superlinear scaling results in crises called ‘singularities’, where population and energy demand tend to infinity in a finite amount of time, which must be avoided by ever more frequent ‘resets’ or innovations that postpone the system's collapse. Here, we place the emergence of cities and planetary civilizations in the context of major evolutionary transitions. With this perspective, we hypothesize that once a planetary civilization transitions into a state that can be described as one virtually connected global city, it will face an ‘asymptotic burnout’, an ultimate crisis where the singularity-interval time scale becomes smaller than the time scale of innovation. If a civilization develops the capability to understand its own trajectory, it will have a window of time to affect a fundamental change to prioritize long-term homeostasis and well-being over unyielding growth—a consciously induced trajectory change or ‘homeostatic awakening’. We propose a new resolution to the Fermi paradox: civilizations either collapse from burnout or redirect themselves to prioritizing homeostasis, a state where cosmic expansion is no longer a goal, making them difficult to detect remotely.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Wong
- Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC 20015, USA
| | - Stuart Bartlett
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kuciński K, Stachowiak-Dłużyńska H, Hreczycho G. Catalytic silylation of O–nucleophiles via Si–H or Si–C bond cleavage: A route to silyl ethers, silanols and siloxanes. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
15
|
Gözen I, Köksal ES, Põldsalu I, Xue L, Spustova K, Pedrueza-Villalmanzo E, Ryskulov R, Meng F, Jesorka A. Protocells: Milestones and Recent Advances. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2106624. [PMID: 35322554 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202106624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The origin of life is still one of humankind's great mysteries. At the transition between nonliving and living matter, protocells, initially featureless aggregates of abiotic matter, gain the structure and functions necessary to fulfill the criteria of life. Research addressing protocells as a central element in this transition is diverse and increasingly interdisciplinary. The authors review current protocell concepts and research directions, address milestones, challenges and existing hypotheses in the context of conditions on the early Earth, and provide a concise overview of current protocell research methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irep Gözen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Elif Senem Köksal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Inga Põldsalu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Lin Xue
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Karolina Spustova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0318, Norway
| | - Esteban Pedrueza-Villalmanzo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Universitetsplatsen 1, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden
| | - Ruslan Ryskulov
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
| | - Fanda Meng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Aldo Jesorka
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, SE-412 96, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kim J. Metal complexes containing
silicon‐based
pincer ligands: Reactivity and application in small molecule activation. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Kim
- Department of Chemistry Sunchon National University Suncheon Jeollanam‐do Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Putro W, Lee VY, Sato K, Choi JC, Fukaya N. From SiO 2 to Alkoxysilanes for the Synthesis of Useful Chemicals. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:35186-35195. [PMID: 34984251 PMCID: PMC8717390 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The transformation of silica (SiO2) to useful chemicals is difficult to explore because of the strength of the Si-O bond and thermodynamic stability of the SiO2 structure. The direct formation of alkoxysilanes from SiO2 has been explored as an alternative to the carbothermal reduction (1900 °C) of SiO2 to metallic silicon (Simet) followed by treatment with alcohols. The base-catalyzed depolymerization of SiO2 with diols and monoalcohols afforded cyclic silicon alkoxides and tetraalkoxysilanes, respectively. SiO2 can also be converted to alkoxysilanes in the presence of organic carbonates, such as dimethyl carbonate. Alkoxysilanes can be further converted to useful chemicals, such as carbamates, organic carbonates, and chlorosilanes. An interesting and highly efficient pathway to the direct conversion of SiO2 to alkoxysilanes has been discussed in detail along with the corresponding economic and environmental implications. The thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of SiO2 transformations in the presence of alcohols are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wahyu
S. Putro
- National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Interdisciplinary
Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry, Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Vladimir Ya. Lee
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Sato
- National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Interdisciplinary
Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry, Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Jun-Chul Choi
- National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Interdisciplinary
Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry, Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Norihisa Fukaya
- National
Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Interdisciplinary
Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry, Tsukuba Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zuo Y, Liang X, Yin J, Gou Z, Lin W. Understanding the significant role of Si O Si bonds: Organosilicon materials as powerful platforms for bioimaging. Coord Chem Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
19
|
Liang T, Zhang Z, Yu H, Cui T, Feng X, Pickard CJ, Duan D, Redfern SAT. Pressure-Induced Superionicity of H - in Hypervalent Sodium Silicon Hydrides. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:7166-7172. [PMID: 34297555 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Superionic states simultaneously exhibit properties of a fluid and a solid. Proton (H+) superionicity in ice, H3O, He-H2O, and He-NH3 compounds is well-studied. However, hydride (H-) superionicity in H-rich compounds is rare, being associated with instability and strongly reducing conditions. Silicon, sodium, and hydrogen are abundant elements in many astrophysical bodies. Here, we use first-principles calculations to show that, at high pressure, Na, Si, and H can form several hypervalent compounds. A previously unreported superionic state of Na2SiH6 results from unconstrained H- in the hypervalent [SiH6]2- unit. Na2SiH6 is dynamically stable at low pressure (3 GPa), becoming superionic at 5 GPa, and re-entering solid/fluid states at about 25 GPa. Our observation of H- transport opens up a new field of H- conductors. It also has implications for the formation of conducting layers at depth in exotic carbon exoplanets, potentially enhancing the habitability of such planets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiao Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Hongyu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Tian Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xiaolei Feng
- Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University - the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu 610207, China
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, United Kingdom
| | - Chris J Pickard
- Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS, United Kingdom
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Defang Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Simon A T Redfern
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rastegari E, Hsiao YJ, Lai WY, Lai YH, Yang TC, Chen SJ, Huang PI, Chiou SH, Mou CY, Chien Y. An Update on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Applications in Nanomedicine. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1067. [PMID: 34371758 PMCID: PMC8309088 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13071067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficient and safe delivery of therapeutic drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids are essential for meaningful therapeutic benefits. The field of nanomedicine shows promising implications in the development of therapeutics by delivering diagnostic and therapeutic compounds. Nanomedicine development has led to significant advances in the design and engineering of nanocarrier systems with supra-molecular structures. Smart mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), with excellent biocompatibility, tunable physicochemical properties, and site-specific functionalization, offer efficient and high loading capacity as well as robust and targeted delivery of a variety of payloads in a controlled fashion. Such unique nanocarriers should have great potential for challenging biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, bioimaging techniques, stem cell research, and cancer therapies. However, in vivo applications of these nanocarriers should be further validated before clinical translation. To this end, this review begins with a brief introduction of MSNs properties, targeted drug delivery, and controlled release with a particular emphasis on their most recent diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Grants
- MOST 108-2320-B-010 -019 -MY3; MOST 109-2327-B-010-007 Ministry of Science and Technology
- MOHW108-TDU-B-211-133001, MOHW109-TDU-B-211-114001 Ministry of Health and Welfare
- VN109-16 VGH, NTUH Joint Research Program
- VTA107-V1-5-1, VTA108-V1-5-3, VTA109-V1-4-1 VGH, TSGH, NDMC, AS Joint Research Program
- IBMS-CRC109-P04 AS Clinical Research Center
- the "Cancer Progression Research Center, National Yang-Ming University" from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan the "Cancer Progression Research Center, National Yang-Ming University" from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan
- and the Ministry of Education through the SPROUT Project- Center For Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B) of National Chiao Tung University and, Taiwan. and the Ministry of Education through the SPROUT Project- Center For Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B) of National Chiao Tung University and, Taiwan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Rastegari
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jer Hsiao
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yi Lai
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Hsien Lai
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Tien-Chun Yang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Pin-I Huang
- Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Hwa Chiou
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yuan Mou
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yueh Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; (E.R.); (Y.-J.H.); (W.-Y.L.); (Y.-H.L.); (T.-C.Y.); (S.-J.C.)
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sarai N, Levin BJ, Roberts JM, Katsoulis DE, Arnold FH. Biocatalytic Transformations of Silicon-the Other Group 14 Element. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2021; 7:944-953. [PMID: 34235255 PMCID: PMC8227617 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Significant inroads have been made using biocatalysts to perform new-to-nature reactions with high selectivity and efficiency. Meanwhile, advances in organosilicon chemistry have led to rich sets of reactions holding great synthetic value. Merging biocatalysis and silicon chemistry could yield new methods for the preparation of valuable organosilicon molecules as well as the degradation and valorization of undesired ones. Despite silicon's importance in the biosphere for its role in plant and diatom construction, it is not known to be incorporated into any primary or secondary metabolites. Enzymes have been found that act on silicon-containing molecules, but only a few are known to act directly on silicon centers. Protein engineering and evolution has and could continue to enable enzymes to catalyze useful organosilicon transformations, complementing and expanding upon current synthetic methods. The role of silicon in biology and the enzymes that act on silicon-containing molecules are reviewed to set the stage for a discussion of where biocatalysis and organosilicon chemistry may intersect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas
S. Sarai
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Benjamin J. Levin
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - John M. Roberts
- Dow
Inc., Core R&D, 633 Washington Street, Midland, Michigan 48667, United
States
| | - Dimitris E. Katsoulis
- Dow
Silicones Corporation, 2200 West Salzburg Road, Auburn, Michigan 48611, United
States
| | - Frances H. Arnold
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
The Different Story of π Bonds. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26133805. [PMID: 34206583 PMCID: PMC8270318 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26133805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We revisit “classical” issues in multiply bonded systems between main groups elements, namely the structural distortions that may occur at the multiple bonds and that lead, e.g., to trans-bent and bond-length alternated structures. The focus is on the role that orbital hybridization and electron correlation play in this context, here analyzed with the help of simple models for σ- and π-bonds, numerically exact solutions of Hubbard Hamiltonians and first principles (density functional theory) investigations of an extended set of systems.
Collapse
|
23
|
Strike a Balance: Between Metals and Non-Metals, Metalloids as a Source of Anti-Infective Agents. INORGANICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/inorganics9060046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the commercially available anti-infective agents are organic molecules. In fact, though, during the pioneering times of modern medicine, at the beginning of the 20th century, several inorganic compounds of transition metals were used for medicinal application, to date, only a small number of inorganic drugs are used in clinical practice. Beyond the transition metals, metalloids—or semimetals—offer a rich chemistry in between that of metallic and non-metallic elements, and accordingly, peculiar features for their exploitation in medicinal chemistry. A few important examples of metalloid-based drugs currently used for the treatment of various diseases do exist. However, the use of this group of elements could be further expanded on the basis of their current applications and the clinical trials they entered. Considering that metalloids offer the opportunity to expand the “chemical-space” for developing novel anti-infective drugs and protocols, in this paper, we briefly recapitulate and discuss the current applications of B-, Si-, As-, Sb- and Te-based anti-infective drugs.
Collapse
|
24
|
Possibilities for an Aerial Biosphere in Temperate Sub Neptune-Sized Exoplanet Atmospheres. UNIVERSE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/universe7060172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The search for signs of life through the detection of exoplanet atmosphere biosignature gases is gaining momentum. Yet, only a handful of rocky exoplanet atmospheres are suitable for observation with planned next-generation telescopes. To broaden prospects, we describe the possibilities for an aerial, liquid water cloud-based biosphere in the atmospheres of sub Neptune-sized temperate exoplanets, those receiving Earth-like irradiation from their host stars. One such planet is known (K2-18b) and other candidates are being followed up. Sub Neptunes are common and easier to study observationally than rocky exoplanets because of their larger sizes, lower densities, and extended atmospheres or envelopes. Yet, sub Neptunes lack any solid surface as we know it, so it is worthwhile considering whether their atmospheres can support an aerial biosphere. We review, synthesize, and build upon existing research. Passive microbial-like life particles must persist aloft in a region with liquid water clouds for long enough to metabolize, reproduce, and spread before downward transport to lower altitudes that may be too hot for life of any kind to survive. Dynamical studies are needed to flesh out quantitative details of life particle residence times. A sub Neptune would need to be a part of a planetary system with an unstable asteroid belt in order for meteoritic material to provide nutrients, though life would also need to efficiently reuse and recycle metals. The origin of life may be the most severe limiting challenge. Regardless of the uncertainties, we can keep an open mind to the search for biosignature gases as a part of general observational studies of sub Neptune exoplanets.
Collapse
|
25
|
Bains W, Petkowski JJ, Zhan Z, Seager S. Evaluating Alternatives to Water as Solvents for Life: The Example of Sulfuric Acid. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:400. [PMID: 33925658 PMCID: PMC8145300 DOI: 10.3390/life11050400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemistry of life requires a solvent, which for life on Earth is water. Several alternative solvents have been suggested, but there is little quantitative analysis of their suitability as solvents for life. To support a novel (non-terrestrial) biochemistry, a solvent must be able to form a stable solution of a diverse set of small molecules and polymers, but must not dissolve all molecules. Here, we analyze the potential of concentrated sulfuric acid (CSA) as a solvent for biochemistry. As CSA is a highly effective solvent but a reactive substance, we focused our analysis on the stability of chemicals in sulfuric acid, using a model built from a database of kinetics of reaction of molecules with CSA. We consider the sulfuric acid clouds of Venus as a test case for this approach. The large majority of terrestrial biochemicals have half-lives of less than a second at any altitude in Venus's clouds, but three sets of human-synthesized chemicals are more stable, with average half-lives of days to weeks at the conditions around 60 km altitude on Venus. We show that sufficient chemical structural and functional diversity may be available among those stable chemicals for life that uses concentrated sulfuric acid as a solvent to be plausible. However, analysis of meteoritic chemicals and possible abiotic synthetic paths suggests that postulated paths to the origin of life on Earth are unlikely to operate in CSA. We conclude that, contrary to expectation, sulfuric acid is an interesting candidate solvent for life, but further work is needed to identify a plausible route for life to originate in it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Bains
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (J.J.P.); (Z.Z.); (S.S.)
- School of Physics & Astronomy, Cardiff University, 4 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Janusz Jurand Petkowski
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (J.J.P.); (Z.Z.); (S.S.)
| | - Zhuchang Zhan
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (J.J.P.); (Z.Z.); (S.S.)
| | - Sara Seager
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (J.J.P.); (Z.Z.); (S.S.)
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Most definitions of life assume that, at a minimum, life is a physical form of matter distinct from its environment at a lower state of entropy than its surroundings, using energy from the environment for internal maintenance and activity, and capable of autonomous reproduction. These assumptions cover all of life as we know it, though more exotic entities can be envisioned, including organic forms with novel biochemistries, dynamic inorganic matter, and self-replicating machines. The probability that any particular form of life will be found on another planetary body depends on the nature and history of that alien world. So the biospheres would likely be very different on a rocky planet with an ice-covered global ocean, a barren planet devoid of surface liquid, a frigid world with abundant liquid hydrocarbons, on a rogue planet independent of a host star, on a tidally locked planet, on super-Earths, or in long-lived clouds in dense atmospheres. While life at least in microbial form is probably pervasive if rare throughout the Universe, and technologically advanced life is likely much rarer, the chance that an alternative form of life, though not intelligent life, could exist and be detected within our Solar System is a distinct possibility.
Collapse
|