A reassessment of prebiotic organic synthesis in neutral planetary atmospheres.

Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
H James CleavesJeffrey L Bada

Abstract

The action of an electric discharge on reduced gas mixtures such as H(2)O, CH(4) and NH(3) (or N(2)) results in the production of several biologically important organic compounds including amino acids. However, it is now generally held that the early Earth's atmosphere was likely not reducing, but was dominated by N(2) and CO(2). The synthesis of organic compounds by the action of electric discharges on neutral gas mixtures has been shown to be much less efficient. We show here that contrary to previous reports, significant amounts of amino acids are produced from neutral gas mixtures. The low yields previously reported appear to be the outcome of oxidation of the organic compounds during hydrolytic workup by nitrite and nitrate produced in the reactions. The yield of amino acids is greatly increased when oxidation inhibitors, such as ferrous iron, are added prior to hydrolysis. Organic synthesis from neutral atmospheres may have depended on the oceanic availability of oxidation inhibitors as well as on the nature of the primitive atmosphere itself. The results reported here suggest that endogenous synthesis from neutral atmospheres may be more important than previously thought.

References

Oct 6, 1978·Journal of Molecular Evolution·J P FerrisJ G Lawless
Jan 1, 1983·Journal of Molecular Evolution·G Schlesinger, S L Miller
Mar 17, 1999·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·D P Summers
Jul 13, 2001·Nature·B M Jakosky, R J Phillips
Feb 12, 1993·Science·J F Kasting
Sep 7, 2001·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·J TailladesA Commeyras
Feb 1, 1994·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J L BadaS L Miller
Jan 1, 1985·Precambrian Research·J C Walker, P Brimblecombe
Nov 16, 2001·Analytical Sciences : the International Journal of the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry·S ChinakaK Ueda
Nov 1, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Shin MiyakawaStanley L Miller
Jul 31, 1959·Science·S L MILLER, H C UREY
Apr 9, 2005·Science·Feng TianH De Sterck
Jan 13, 2006·Molecular Diversity·Kristof PlankensteinerBernd M Rode
Jun 1, 1966·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·P H Abelson
Oct 1, 1971·Science·A C LasagaM J Dwyer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 18, 2009·Die Naturwissenschaften·Hartmut Follmann, Carol Brownson
Mar 17, 2010·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Elizabeth A CarterHowell G M Edwards
Mar 21, 2012·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Kenneth R Olson
Mar 21, 2009·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·C P J Maury
Jan 14, 2010·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·J Dennis PollackDennis K Pearl
Mar 25, 2010·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Laurent Boiteau, Robert Pascal
May 13, 2011·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Raphaël PlassonKouichi Asakura
Sep 6, 2012·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Hideharu KuwaharaKensei Kobayashi
May 23, 2013·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Chester E HarmanEric T Wolf
Aug 29, 2013·Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry·Anyin LiR Graham Cooks
Nov 1, 2013·Chemical Reviews·Kepa Ruiz-MirazoAndrés de la Escosura
Mar 23, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Eric T ParkerJeffrey L Bada
Oct 19, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marie-Laure PonsFrancis Albarède
Mar 24, 2010·Astrobiology·A BrackGlenn J White
Aug 23, 2012·Nucleic Acids Research·Akio Kawahara-KobayashiDaisuke Kiga
Sep 21, 2011·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Robert Pascal, Laurent Boiteau
Jun 11, 2010·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·Antonio Lazcano
Jun 25, 2010·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·Kevin ZahnleBruce Fegley
Dec 19, 2008·Biology Direct·Harold S Bernhardt, Warren P Tate
Nov 21, 2009·Biology Direct·Artem S Novozhilov, Eugene V Koonin
Jul 1, 2009·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Nadia Balucani
Nov 21, 2014·Nature Chemistry·Lee-Ping WangTodd J Martínez
May 12, 2012·Chemical Society Reviews·Amanda C EvansUwe J Meierhenrich
Jun 13, 2012·Chemical Society Reviews·Grégoire DangerRobert Pascal
Feb 4, 2016·Astrobiology·Victor SojoNick Lane
Oct 29, 2015·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Eva WollrabAlbrecht Ott
Sep 16, 2015·Journal of Biological Physics·Yuhei UmedaHiromoto Nakazawa
Dec 26, 2009·Journal of Theoretical Biology·H James Cleaves
Sep 19, 2009·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Peter van der GulikMarianne Rooman
Jan 14, 2012·Chemistry : a European Journal·Claudia HuberGünter Wächtershäuser
May 20, 2016·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Rebecca J Rapf, Veronica Vaida
Jul 29, 2016·Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM·Eric T ParkerFacundo M Fernández
Oct 25, 2016·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Alberto Vázquez-SalazarAntonio Lazcano
Dec 19, 2016·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·J ThøgersenS J Knak Jensen
Jan 1, 2013·Life·Carol TurseDirk Schulze-Makuch
Jan 26, 2018·Chemistry : a European Journal·Surajit NandiAnakuthil Anoop

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.