Sunlight-initiated chemistry of aqueous pyruvic acid: building complexity in the origin of life

Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
Elizabeth C GriffithVeronica Vaida

Abstract

Coupling chemical reactions to an energy source is a necessary step in the origin of life. Here, we utilize UV photons provided by a simulated sun to activate aqueous pyruvic acid and subsequently prompt chemical reactions mimicking some of the functions of modern metabolism. Pyruvic acid is interesting in a prebiotic context due to its prevalence in modern metabolism and its abiotic availability on early Earth. Here, pyruvic acid (CH3COCOOH, a C3 molecule) photochemically reacts to produce more complex molecules containing four or more carbon atoms. Acetoin (CH3CHOHCOCH3), a C4 molecule and a modern bacterial metabolite, is produced in this chemistry as well as lactic acid (CH3CHOHCOOH), a molecule which, when coupled with other abiotic chemical reaction pathways, can provide a regeneration pathway for pyruvic acid. This chemistry is discussed in the context of plausible environments on early Earth such as near the ocean surface and atmospheric aerosol particles. These environments allow for combination and exchange of reactants and products of other reaction environments (such as shallow hydrothermal vents). The result could be a contribution to the steady increase in chemical complexity requisite in the origin of life.

References

Jan 1, 1989·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·J F KastingA T Young
Jan 1, 1989·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·D W Deamer, R M Pashley
Apr 1, 1973·Journal of Theoretical Biology·C Sagan
May 1, 1994·Journal of Magnetic Resonance. Series B·R J OggJ S Taylor
Oct 1, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·K Sun, D Mauzerall
Jun 24, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·H J Cleaves, S L Miller
Apr 13, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D SegréD Lancet
Oct 18, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C M DobsonV Vaida
Feb 12, 1993·Science·J F Kasting
Jan 1, 1991·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·C Chyba, C Sagan
Jul 31, 1959·Science·S L MILLER, H C UREY
Feb 26, 2004·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·D J DonaldsonV Vaida
Mar 11, 2006·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·M I GuzmanM R Hoffmann
Jun 17, 2006·The Quarterly Review of Biology·Robert Shapiro
Nov 15, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Melissa G TrainerMargaret A Tolbert
Dec 1, 2006·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Robert M Hazen, David W Deamer
Jun 15, 2007·Critical Reviews in Microbiology·Zijun Xiao, Ping Xu
Jul 22, 2008·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Kaito TakahashiVeronica Vaida
Sep 30, 2008·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·William MartinMichael J Russell
Feb 26, 2010·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·David Deamer, Arthur L Weber
Mar 18, 2010·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Marcelo I Guzman, Scot T Martin
Mar 20, 2010·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·Sandra Pizzarello, Everett Shock
May 11, 2010·Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology·Robert M Hazen, Dimitri A Sverjensky
Oct 23, 2010·Nature Chemistry·Nir GoldmanAmitesh Maiti
Jun 11, 2011·Science·Peter R SchreinerWesley D Allen
Jul 20, 2011·The Journal of Chemical Physics·Veronica Vaida
Aug 10, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·George CooperYi Wang
Jan 12, 2012·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Molly C Larsen, Veronica Vaida
Apr 19, 2012·Accounts of Chemical Research·Elizabeth C GriffithVeronica Vaida
Jul 17, 2012·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Joost GroenPascale Ehrenfreund
Oct 24, 2012·Nature Chemistry·Dougal Ritson, John D Sutherland
Jun 12, 2013·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Michael J RussellElbert Branscomb
Jul 4, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Elizabeth C GriffithVeronica Vaida
Aug 1, 1992·Photosynthesis Research·S M Awramik

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 17, 2015·Chemical Reviews·Christian GeorgeSergey A Nizkorodov
May 20, 2016·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Rebecca J Rapf, Veronica Vaida
Jul 29, 2016·Chemistry : a European Journal·Margarita R Marín-YaseliMarta Ruiz-Bermejo
Dec 20, 2016·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Russell J PerkinsVeronica Vaida
May 17, 2017·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Rebecca J RapfVeronica Vaida
Jan 20, 2018·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·M ZawadzkiJ Fedor
Jan 22, 2021·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Keaten J KappesVeronica Vaida
Feb 16, 2021·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Andriy PysanenkoMichal Fárník
Aug 6, 2019·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Michael R AlvesVicki H Grassian
Jan 25, 2020·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. a·Sandra L BlairVeronica Vaida

❮ 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.

Related Papers

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Elizabeth C GriffithVeronica Vaida
Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
Robert M Hazen, David Deamer
Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life
David P SummersRanor C B Basa
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved