Olivine-catalyzed glycolaldehyde and sugar synthesis under aqueous conditions
The presence of minerals in the prebiotic environment likely shaped the evolution of organic matter, thereby contributing to the emergence of prebiotic systems. Records of such systems are lacking and the interactions between abiotic organic matter and primary minerals remain poorly understood. Here...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
| Repositorio: | Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ddd.uab.cat:308831 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://ddd.uab.cat/record/308831 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118558 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Olivine catalysis Formose reaction Sugars Phyllosilicates Prebiotic chemistry Aqueous alteration |
| Sumario: | The presence of minerals in the prebiotic environment likely shaped the evolution of organic matter, thereby contributing to the emergence of prebiotic systems. Records of such systems are lacking and the interactions between abiotic organic matter and primary minerals remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the ability of olivine silicates, in simulated early Earth or planetary aqueous environments, to catalyse glycolaldehyde formation from only formaldehyde, and help producing sugars that are essential components for life, through the formose reaction. By combining comprehensive gas chromatography analyses on experimental samples with quantum chemical simulations, we provide a mechanism for an olivine-catalyzed glycolaldehyde formation. Our findings suggest that olivine plays a triple role in the formose chemical network: maintaining an alkaline pH, enabling the initiation step towards the formation of glycoladehyde (which is typically the most challenging step) and promoting the autocatalytic cycle. These results open-up new scenarios on the impact of primary minerals on the evolution of chemical pathways in aqueous environments that were probably essential for the emergence of the first biomolecules. |
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