Magnetism, entropy, and the first nano-machines

Abstract

Abstract:The efficiency of bio-molecular motors stems from reversible interactions ∼ B T ; weak bonds stabilizing intermediate states (enabling conversion of chemical into mechanical energy). For their (unknown) origins, we suggest that a magnetically structured phase (MSP) formed via accretion of superparamagnetic particles (S-PPs) during serpentinization (including magnetite formation) of igneous rocks comprising the Hadean Ocean floor, had hosted motor-like diffusion of ligand-bound S-PPs through its 'template'-layers. Ramifications range from optical activity to quantum coherence. A gentle flux gradient offers both detailed-balance breaking non-equilibrium and asymmetry to a magnetic dipole, undergoing infinitesimal spin-alignment changes. Periodic perturbation of this background by local H-fields of templatepartners can lead to periodic high and low-template affinity states, due to the dipole's magnetic degree of freedom. An accompanying magnetocaloric effect allows interchange between system-entropy and bath temperature. We speculate on a magnetic reproducer in a setting close to the submarine hydrothermal mound-scenario of Russell and coworkers that could evolve bio-ratchets. PACS

Softening the “Crystal Scaffold” for Life’s Emergence

“…Similarly, as magnetic rocks are a good provider of moderate H-fields for accretion of nanoparticles forming on the Hadean Ocean Floor [31], this brings us to the alkaline seepage site mound scenario [6,54,55], illustrated in Figure 1 (reproduced with permission from Russell and Martin [7]; Russell et al [54]). Here, negatively-charged colloidal mineral greigite forming under alkaline mound conditions (as pH well above 3 [56]), does resemble an aqueous-based ferrofluid.…”

“…Thus the following may be outlined as: 1) We briefly review the scenario of water domains organized on hydrophilic colloidal surfaces envisaged by Del Giudice and coworkers [29] as to how these dissipative structures forming by coherent dynamics, can show a reducing nature; and effects electromagnetic potentials (instead of fields) can exert on a system with long-range phase correlations, before concluding this section with a brief historical perspective on QED developments (Sect.2) 2) Water being the common denominator in the hypothesized Hadean scenario and in the present day life forms, we consider how mineral colloids can provide a correspondence with the collective response behaviour [30] of complex biological molecules. Analogous to H-field induced associative networks with ferrofluids, we look at the 'mound scenario' [7] where magnetic iron-sulphur colloids can be similarly controlled with a (spatially varying) field from magnetic rocks [31,32]. In a thermodynamic description, the symmetry-broken patterns of hypothesized field-driven mineral colloid assemblies and ATP-driven soft bio-matter are compared (Sect.3) 3) We point out how the presence of two different dipolar modes could have implications for water CDs to have acted as the "scaffold" enabling 'takeover' (Sect.4) 4) We consider how the paradigm of a soft "scaffold" (c.f.…”

“…Further, as structure (shape, polarity, etc) dictates interactions, one wonders if incorporation of substitutes had not been an information registering mechanism of a coherent ancestor leading to the structure-function associations across biology, the 'contents' being different functions in different structural (memory) addresses. Now the emergence of a digital form of storing information in this scenariowhere associative networks were available [31]-is likely to have been a later development that can be understood in terms of connections developing between networks [10,11]. Nevertheless, a magnetic environment proposed by us (see [101]) can provide a basis [32] for Patel's [102] proposal of a quantum search leading to a digital mechanism, if a coherent ancestor indeed brought forth life, that is.…”

Green Rust: The Simple Organizing &lsquo;Seed&rsquo; of All Life?&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong> </strong>

“…[211] Microcrysts of greigite are magnetic and have low electrochemical resistance. [220,221,222] Greigite is an anhydrous inverse spinel wherein the apical iron (or nickel) is in the 2 + state, while the delocalized electrons produce an average charge of 2.5 + on the 4 iron ions in the cuboid. [212] Although the structure of greigite is afine with the active centers of ferredoxins (e.g., in molybdenum-bearing formate hydrogenlyase and radical SAM, and is comparable to the cuboids in the active centers of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and acetyl coenzyme synthase, no passive 'catalytic' activity in these minerals has (yet) been demonstrated [28,122,214,215,216,217,218,219]).…”

Field-Control, Phase-Transitions, and Life’s Emergence

“…And as there was no trace of any geo-magnetic field at ∼4.1–4.2 Ga (Hazen et al, 2008), the time when Life is believed to have been already initiated (4.2–4.3 Ga; Russell and Hall, 1997, 2006), we need extra-terrestrial sources, e.g., meteoritic matter , for providing local H-fields (for, e.g., see The Mound Scenario; Mitra-Delmotte and Mitra, 2010a). …”