Understanding the formation of biogenic molecules in abiotic conditions is a prerequisite in the origin-of-life studies. Determining the conditions allowing an efficient one-pot synthesis of the largest possible panel of biogenic compounds may shed light on the plausible scenario in which the processes that kick-started life might have occurred. We report a set of experiments describing the syntheses taking place from formamide (NH2CHO) and thermal water in the presence of meteorites, in the hydrothermal physical-chemical environment of the Phlegrean Fields. The results show that meteorites catalyse the synthesis of a large panel of organic compounds of biological relevance, including carboxylic acids, nucleobases, amino acids and sugars. The simplicity of the system (a one-carbon molecule as starting compound, a volcanic hydrothermal environment, meteorites as catalysts) hints to a possible extension of the results to similar environments present in other planetary bodies and space objects. (C) 2018 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Botta, L., Saladino, R., Bizzarri, B.m., Cobucci-Ponzano, B., Iacono, R., Avino, R., et al. (2018). Formamide-based prebiotic chemistry in the Phlegrean Fields. ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH, 62(8), 2372-2379 [10.1016/j.asr.2017.07.017].
Formamide-based prebiotic chemistry in the Phlegrean Fields
Botta L.;
2018-01-01
Abstract
Understanding the formation of biogenic molecules in abiotic conditions is a prerequisite in the origin-of-life studies. Determining the conditions allowing an efficient one-pot synthesis of the largest possible panel of biogenic compounds may shed light on the plausible scenario in which the processes that kick-started life might have occurred. We report a set of experiments describing the syntheses taking place from formamide (NH2CHO) and thermal water in the presence of meteorites, in the hydrothermal physical-chemical environment of the Phlegrean Fields. The results show that meteorites catalyse the synthesis of a large panel of organic compounds of biological relevance, including carboxylic acids, nucleobases, amino acids and sugars. The simplicity of the system (a one-carbon molecule as starting compound, a volcanic hydrothermal environment, meteorites as catalysts) hints to a possible extension of the results to similar environments present in other planetary bodies and space objects. (C) 2018 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
