Oxidation of water to hydrogen peroxide at the rock–water interface due to stress-activated electric currents in rocks

Balk, Melike; Bose, M.; Ertem, Gözen; Rogoff, D.; Rothschild, Lynn J.; Freund, Friedemann

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.03.044

Cited by 57 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In line with the presented model, the generation of a superoxide anion radical, a substrate for SOD, might be induced by the radioactive decay of uranium present in the natural environment of this organism (Chivian et al, 2008). The production of H 2 O 2 at the rock-water interface has also been reported, which suggests that ROS must have been generated long before the rise of free O 2 in the atmosphere (Balk et al, 2009). The occurrence of ROS removal systems in so many strict anaerobes (Fig.…”

Section: Reactions Involving H 2 Omentioning

confidence: 66%

Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Early Evolution of Life on Earth:In silicoComparative Analysis of Biochemical Pathways

Ślesak

Kruk

2012

Astrobiology

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In the Universe, oxygen is the third most widespread element, while on Earth it is the most abundant one. Moreover, oxygen is a major constituent of all biopolymers fundamental to living organisms. Besides O 2 , reactive oxygen species (ROS), among them hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), are also important reactants in the present aerobic metabolism. According to a widely accepted hypothesis, aerobic metabolism and many other reactions/pathways involving O 2 appeared after the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. In this study, the hypothesis was formulated that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) was at least able to tolerate O 2 and detoxify ROS in a primordial environment. A comparative analysis was carried out of a number of the O 2 -and H 2 O 2 -involving metabolic reactions that occur in strict anaerobes, facultative anaerobes, and aerobes. The results indicate that the most likely LUCA possessed O 2 -and H 2 O 2 -involving pathways, mainly reactions to remove ROS, and had, at least in part, the components of aerobic respiration. Based on this, the presence of a low, but significant, quantity of H 2 O 2 and O 2 should be taken into account in theoretical models of the early Archean atmosphere and oceans and the evolution of life. It is suggested that the early metabolism involving O 2 /H 2 O 2 was a key adaptation of LUCA to already existing weakly oxic zones in Earth's primordial environment.

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Section: Reactions Involving H 2 Omentioning

confidence: 66%

Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Early Evolution of Life on Earth:In silicoComparative Analysis of Biochemical Pathways

Ślesak

Kruk

2012

Astrobiology

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“…However, in general, as to the possible causes of geochemical anomalies in water, two immediate mechanisms emerge: 1) a simple increase in fluid flow in the surrounding of the future epicenter and selective dissolution of some K-Mg-Ca-rich rocks (e.g., Federico et al, 2008); or 2) "electro-corrosion" whereby the dissolution of rocks is accelerated by the flow of stress-activated positive hole currents (Balk et al, 2009;Freund, 2011). Following the second mechanism, the increased amount of cations in water could be related to oxidation of water to hydrogen peroxide at the rock-water interface (Balk et al, 2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the second mechanism, the increased amount of cations in water could be related to oxidation of water to hydrogen peroxide at the rock-water interface (Balk et al, 2009). Balk et al (2009) chemical equation predicts that every positive hole (i.e., O -state) arriving at the rockwater interface reacts by oxidizing the water which turns into an OH -within the rock surface. This implies that the rock surface becomes solvated and turns into a gel.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Springwater chemical anomalies prior to the Mw = 7.2 Van Earthquake (Turkey)

İnan

Balderer²,

Leuenberger-West³

et al. 2012

Geochem. J.

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“…The strange phenomena observed in water coming from springs located in caves could be analyzed just in this context. A very interesting article from Balk et al [75] reported that at the rock-water interface very interesting oxidative phenomena and also oxidative stresses appear analogously to what occurs in living organisms. Actually, rocks and living organisms have in common the presence of an interfacial layer of coherent water, which appears as a reasonable candidate to be the actor of the reported effects.…”

Section: The Dialog Between Liquid Coherent Water and The Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Dynamics at the Root of Metamorphosis in Living Organisms

Giudice

Spinetti²,

Tedeschi³

2010

Water

132

116

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Liquid water has been recognized long ago to be the matrix of many processes, including life and also rock dynamics. Interactions among biomolecules occur very differently in a non-aqueous system and are unable to produce life. This ability to make living processes possible implies a very peculiar structure of liquid water. According to modern Quantum Field Theory (QFT), a complementary principle (in the sense of Niels Bohr) holds between the number N of field quanta (including the matter field whose quanta are just the atoms/molecules) and the phase Ф. This means that when we focus on the atomic structure of matter it loses its coherence properties and, vice versa, when we examine the phase dynamics of the system its atomic structure becomes undefined. Superfluid liquid Helium is the first example of this peculiar quantum dynamics. In the present paper we show how consideration of the phase dynamics of liquid water makes the understanding of its peculiar role in the onset of self-organization in living organisms and in ecosystems possible.

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Oxidation of water to hydrogen peroxide at the rock–water interface due to stress-activated electric currents in rocks

Cited by 57 publications

References 34 publications

Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Early Evolution of Life on Earth:In silicoComparative Analysis of Biochemical Pathways

Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Early Evolution of Life on Earth:In silicoComparative Analysis of Biochemical Pathways

Springwater chemical anomalies prior to the Mw = 7.2 Van Earthquake (Turkey)

Water Dynamics at the Root of Metamorphosis in Living Organisms

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