A thermodynamic chemical reaction network drove autocatalytic prebiotic peptides formation

Bao, Peng; He, Yang; Li, Guoxiang; Zhang, Huien; Xiao, Ke‐Qing

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2022.03.004

Cited by 8 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…There were 7 proteinogenic amino acids in the sulfate-fueled Sammox-driven CRNs with 15 NH 4 + as the N source at 100 °C (Figure 1h). The frequencies of the proteinogenic amino acids were consistent with those of a previous study, 12 even in treatments with 15 NH 4 + as the N source. We chose dynamic changes of glycine (free and combined) to illustrate prebiotic evolution in Sammox-driven CRNs because glycine was present in all treatment groups in a relatively large amount (Figure 1).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The reaction system was heated in a water bath at 100 °C for 48 h in the dark, then removed from the bath and cooled to room temperature for analysis. 12 The other treatment group was frozen at −21 °C (eutectic freezing temperature) for 48 h under microaerobic conditions and analyzed after dissolution at room temperature. This study was conducted through the following series of experiments.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chromatographic conditions are as shown in the previous study. 12 2.3.6. Quantitative Analysis of Sulfide by Methylene Blue Method.…”

Section: Gas Chromatography−mass Spectrometry (Gc− Ms) Analysis Of Su...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we propose that bicarbonate, sulfite/sulfate, ammonium, and water were converted into bidirectional autocatalytic peptides from CRNs initiated by sulfurous reduction coupled to anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Sammox) under mild hydrothermal conditions; this was a feasible scenario for the origin of life. 12 Sammox-driven CRNs might have achieved self-sustainment, as they have both anabolic and catabolic functions, 12 implying the possibility of prebiotic evolution. The autocatalysis of prebiotic peptides in Sammox-driven CRNs might have represented biological elemental isotope discrimination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Demonstrating Prebiotic Peptide Evolution by Nitrogen Isotope Discrimination in an Autocatalytic Chemical Reaction Network

Bao,

Wu,

et al. 2024

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Nitrogen isotope discrimination may be closely related to the prebiotic evolution of peptides that occurred in the origin of life from chemical reaction networks (CRNs). We deduce that autocatalytic Sammox (sulfurous reduction coupled to anaerobic ammonium oxidation)-driven CRN is a feasible scenario for life origin. To demonstrate prebiotic peptide evolution, we investigated N isotope discrimination in proteinogenic amino acids and peptide synthesis in Sammox-driven CRNs, combining mathematical and physical models. The species and amounts of proteinogenic amino acids generated in Sammox-driven CRNs with 14 NH 4 + as the N source were all significantly higher than those in Sammox-driven CRNs with 15 NH 4 + as the N source for both hydrothermal and microaerobic eutectic freezing conditions. The low yield of 15 N-amino acids, both species and amounts, will lead to the formation of 15 N-peptides with poor structure and function and slow peptide dynamics; these peptides might be preferentially degraded in Sammox-driven CRNs. We then explored the nitrogen isotopic effects during the synthesis process from ammonia to glycine, from glycine to glycine-containing peptides, and during the process of glycine-containing peptide hydrolysis. 15 N are eliminated in competition with 14 N during the process of glycine synthesis, glycine-containing peptide synthesis, and glycinecontaining peptide hydrolysis under hydrothermal conditions as determined by the maximum entropy production principle, which is a prebiotic evolution process. In addition, pyrrole as the building block of the prosthetic group, which is generated from Sammoxdriven CRNs under hydrothermal conditions, may provide a more evolutionary possibility of prebiotic peptides.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chromatographic conditions are as shown in the previous study. 12 2.3.6. Quantitative Analysis of Sulfide by Methylene Blue Method.…”

Section: Gas Chromatography−mass Spectrometry (Gc− Ms) Analysis Of Su...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Demonstrating Prebiotic Peptide Evolution by Nitrogen Isotope Discrimination in an Autocatalytic Chemical Reaction Network

Bao,

Wu,

et al. 2024

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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“…High ammonium (2.5 ± 1.1 mg/L) and high sulfate (489.8 ± 70.1 mg/L) in the FlatPlain could provide thermodynamically feasible conditions for ammonium oxidation coupled with sulfate reduction (Sulfammox), which has been widely found in artificial systems and natural environments alike. − Nevertheless, oxidation–reduction between sulfide and sulfate or even other intermediate S species could act as redox partners and/or electron shuttles for sulfide-mediated and/or ammonium-mediated reduction of Fe(III) (oxyhydro)oxides. , Additionally, sulfide could directly reduce As-bearing Fe(III) (oxyhydro)oxides, , which may trigger As mobilization. ,, Taken together, the switching of redox-sensitive interconnected C–N–S–Fe–As biogeochemical networks along the flow path suggested that nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation in the ProxFan led to As immobilization, while microbial reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) (hydro)oxides (especially Feammox) resulted in As mobilization in the FlatPlain.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%