From the one-carbon amide formamide to RNA all the steps are prebiotically possible

Saladino, Raffaele; Botta, Giuseppe; Pino, Samanta; Costanzo, Giovanna; Mauro, Ernesto Di

doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2012.02.018

Cited by 37 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…Saladino et al extensively studied the formamide-based chemistry that can lead to the synthesis of nucleobases and nucleotides and their metabolic products (22)(23)(24). By choosing the appropriate catalyst, purine, adenine, guanine, and cytosine (catalyzed by limestone, kaolin, silica, alumina, or zeolite), thymine (irradiated by sunlight and catalyzed by TiO 2 ), and hypoxanthine and uracil (in the presence of montmorillonites) were obtained (23)(24)(25)(26)(27).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

High-energy chemistry of formamide: A unified mechanism of nucleobase formation

Ferus

Nesvorný

Šponer

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

162

151

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The coincidence of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) period and the emergence of terrestrial life about 4 billion years ago suggest that extraterrestrial impacts could contribute to the synthesis of the building blocks of the first life-giving molecules. We simulated the high-energy synthesis of nucleobases from formamide during the impact of an extraterrestrial body. A high-power laser has been used to induce the dielectric breakdown of the plasma produced by the impact. The results demonstrate that the initial dissociation of the formamide molecule could produce a large amount of highly reactive CN and NH radicals, which could further react with formamide to produce adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. Based on GC-MS, high-resolution FTIR spectroscopic results, as well as theoretical calculations, we present a comprehensive mechanistic model, which accounts for all steps taking place in the studied impact chemistry. Our findings thus demonstrate that extraterrestrial impacts, which were one order of magnitude more abundant during the LHB period than before and after, could not only destroy the existing ancient life forms, but could also contribute to the creation of biogenic molecules.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

High-energy chemistry of formamide: A unified mechanism of nucleobase formation

Ferus

Nesvorný

Šponer

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

162

151

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“…2-Amino-2-hydroxymalonitrile (AHMN) (14), diaminomalonitrile (DAMN) (15), and 4-aminoimidazole (4-AMI) (16) were also detected in our experiments. These compounds are key intermediates in the highly exergonic synthesis of purine nucleobases through a multistep pathway requiring the addition of the cyanide radical (•CN) on FA.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…DNA and RNA components (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), amino acids (22,23), sugars (24), and carboxylic acids (25,26) have been obtained. Minerals tune the selectivity of these transformations (1,2), the mechanistic pathways for the synthesis of nucleobases requiring pyrimidine (27)(28)(29)(30) or imidazole intermediates (31,32).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteorite-catalyzed syntheses of nucleosides and of other prebiotic compounds from formamide under proton irradiation

Saladino

Carota

Botta

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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168

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Liquid formamide has been irradiated by high-energy proton beams in the presence of powdered meteorites, and the products of the catalyzed resulting syntheses were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Relative to the controls (no radiation, or no formamide, or no catalyst), an extremely rich, variegate, and prebiotically relevant panel of compounds was observed. The meteorites tested were representative of the four major classes: iron, stony iron, chondrites, and achondrites. The products obtained were amino acids, carboxylic acids, nucleobases, sugars, and, most notably, four nucleosides: cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and thymidine. In accordance with theoretical studies, the detection of HCN oligomers suggests the occurrence of mechanisms based on the generation of radical cyanide species (CN·) for the synthesis of nucleobases. Given that many of the compounds obtained are key components of extant organisms, these observations contribute to outline plausible exogenous high-energy-based prebiotic scenarios and their possible boundary conditions, as discussed.origin of life | formamide | prebiotic syntheses | nucleosides | meteorites H ypothesizing formamide (FA) as parent molecule, we explored its potentiality in synthetic processes when exposed to proton irradiation. The purpose of this analysis is to verify a possible prebiotic scenario consisting of FA, considered here as starting one-carbon atom material, of proton beams mimicking solar energetic particles as energy source, and of meteorites as catalysts. The rationale of this approach is that the results could help in outlining exogenous prebiotic models and their boundaries.FA (NH 2 CHO) is becoming one of the most intensively studied precursors for prebiotic syntheses of compounds potentially relevant for the origin of life (1-4). FA is a ubiquitous molecule in the universe. It has been detected in galactic centers (Sgr A and Sgr B), in star-forming regions of dense molecular clouds, in high-mass young stellar objects, in the interstellar medium and in comets and satellites (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).With the appropriate mineral as catalyst, different ensembles of intermediates of genetic and metabolic apparatuses are simultaneously synthesized from FA under thermal conditions (i.e., by heating liquid FA between 333 and 453 K at room pressure). DNA and RNA components (15-21), amino acids (22, 23), sugars (24), and carboxylic acids (25, 26) have been obtained. Minerals tune the selectivity of these transformations (1, 2), the mechanistic pathways for the synthesis of nucleobases requiring pyrimidine (27-30) or imidazole intermediates (31,32).Within the solar system, ionizing cosmic radiation is generated by the Sun [solar cosmic rays (SCRs), primarily protons accelerated by flares and coronal mass ejections to energies typically of tens to hundreds megaelectronvolts] and is also formed by particles coming from the deep universe [galactic cosmic rays (GCRs)] (33). The SCRs and GCRs differ in their components and energy spectra, but their overwhelming co...

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“…±ÑÐËÏÂÐËÇ ÕÑÅÑ, ÚÕÑ ÅËÒÑÕÇÊÞ ÒÓÑËÔØÑÉAEÇÐËâ ÉËÊÐË ÓÂÊAEÇÎÇÐÞ Ô ÔÖÜÇÔÕÄÖáÜÇÌ ÉËÊÐßá ÎÑÅËÚÇÔÍÑÌ ÒÓÑÒÂÔÕßá, ÒÓËÛÎÑ ÎËÛß Ä ÒÑÔÎÇAEÐÇÇ ÄÓÇÏâ ÔÑ ÔÕÑÓÑÐÞ ÔÒÇÙËÂÎËÔÕÑÄ ÒÑ ËÐ×ÑÓÏÂÕËÍÇ [14]. [15].…”

Section: ³ñäóçïçððñç ôñôõñâðëç òóñãîçïþ òóñëôøñéAeçðëâ éëêðëunclassified

Life originated as a genetic code (contribution to the discussion of the paper by G.R. Ivanitskii "21st century: what is life from the perspective of physics" [Usp. Fiz. Nauk. 180 337 (2010); Phys. Usp. 53 327 (2010); Usp. Fiz. Nauk. 182 1235 (2012); Phys. Usp. 55 1152 (2012); Usp. Fiz. Nauk 182 1238 (2012); Ph

Korystov¹

2017

Usp. Fiz. Nauk

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From the one-carbon amide formamide to RNA all the steps are prebiotically possible

Cited by 37 publications

References 70 publications

High-energy chemistry of formamide: A unified mechanism of nucleobase formation

High-energy chemistry of formamide: A unified mechanism of nucleobase formation

Meteorite-catalyzed syntheses of nucleosides and of other prebiotic compounds from formamide under proton irradiation

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