Phosphorus, a key to life on the primitive earth

Griffith, Edward J.; Ponnamperuma, Cyril; Gabel, Norman W.

doi:10.1007/bf00927976

Cited by 41 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Similarly, a suite of other phosphonic acids has been synthesized via ultraviolet irradiation of phosphite in the presence of formaldehyde or simple alcohols (De Graaf et al 1995). Yamagata et al (1991) reported the detection of condensed phosphates (primarily pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate) in condensates from experiments in which apatite mixed with basalt had been subjected to elevated temperature, thus indirectly confirming an earlier prediction that P 4 O 10 would be volatilized from apatite at high temperature (Griffith et al 1977). More striking was the identification of the same products in condensates collected from a fumarole of the volcano Mount Usu.…”

Section: Lightning In Volcanic Eruption Clouds and Phosphatementioning

confidence: 80%

Phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry

Schwartz

2006

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

179

166

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The prebiotic synthesis of phosphorus-containing compounds-such as nucleotides and polynucleotides-would require both a geologically plausible source of the element and pathways for its incorporation into chemical systems on the primitive Earth. The mineral apatite, which is the only significant source of phosphate on Earth, has long been thought to be problematical in this respect due to its low solubility and reactivity. However, in the last decade or so, at least two pathways have been demonstrated which would circumvent these perceived problems. In addition, recent results would seem to suggest an additional, extraterrestrial source of reactive phosphorus. It appears that the 'phosphorus problem' is no longer the stumbling block which it was once thought to be.

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Section: Lightning In Volcanic Eruption Clouds and Phosphatementioning

confidence: 80%

Phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry

Schwartz

2006

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

179

166

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“…Although previous research on P weathering has focused on volcanic rocks, sedimentary rocks contain the largest reservoir of C and P on the Earth's surface [ Griffith et al , 1977; Hunt , 1972], and they are also subjected to chemical weathering. Black shales are organic‐rich sedimentary rocks formed by sediment deposition under low oxygen or anoxic conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weathering of phosphorus in black shales

Kolowith¹,

Berner

2002

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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[1] Rock weathering is the ultimate source of phosphorus (P) to the oceans, where P can be a limiting nutrient for biological production. In this paper, P weathering is examined in soil chronosequences formed in weathering profiles on the organic-rich Woodford Shale, New Albany Shale and Green River Shale. At all sites, organic P and inorganic P concentrations reveal that P weathering is far from complete, prior to erosion. Carbon (C)/P ratios decrease significantly from unweathered shale to the weathered shale at all sites, which is driven by loss of total organic C with weathering. Here we characterize organic phosphorus across a weathering profile from the Woodford Shale using solid-state CPMAS 31 P NMR spectroscopy techniques, revealing that P esters are the dominant forms of P during all stages of weathering. Certain P esters appear to be resistant to chemical weathering during the millions of years between deposition, uplift and erosion, possibly representing a significant long-term global sink for P. INDEX

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“…A possibility of the formation of tetrametaphosphate (TetMP) via a P4010 molecule on the primitive earth through volcanic activity was proposed by Griffith (1977) and Griffith et al (1977), and recently Yamagata et al (1982) demonstrated that TetMP was an effective reagent for the phosphorylation of adenosine. Trimetaphosphate (TriMP), having a cyclic structure similar to TetMP, was also likely to have been supplied on the primitive earth (Osterberg and Orgel, 1972).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condensation of oligoglycines with trimeta- and tetrametaphosphate in aqueous solutions

Yamanaka

Inomata

Yamagata

1988

Origins Life Evol Biosphere

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The dehydration condensation of glycine with trimetaphosphate in aqueous solution has been reinvestigated. Although it has been reported that the condensation of glycine under the alkaline conditions was brought about through the formation of cyclic acylphosphoramidate and hence the condensation of polyglycines could not occur, we found that the condensation of oligoglycines with trimeta- and tetrametaphosphate in aqueous solution are possible through the formation of their acylphosphates under the neutral or weak acidic conditions. Aqueous solutions of 1.0 M glycylglycine and 1.0 M trimetaphosphate in the various pH from 4.0 to 9.0 were incubated at 38 degrees C. The solutions were analyzed by HPLC with ninhydrin reaction system. Tetraglycine and hexaglycine were detected and their maximum yields were given in the reaction carried out around pH 7. They are approximately 15% and 4% after 30 days, respectively. Analogous experiments were performed with tetrametaphosphate. The results showed a similar pH dependence for the condensation, but the yields were about one-tenth of those of corresponding experiments with trimetaphosphate. Relative rates of dimerization of glycine, diglycine and triglycine in the equimolar concentration were also investigated at pH 6.0 at 38 degrees C. The rates for diglycine and triglycine were approximately twice and four times as large as that for glycine. Relevance of the experiments to chemical evolution is discussed.

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Phosphorus, a key to life on the primitive earth

Cited by 41 publications

References 18 publications

Phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry

Phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry

Weathering of phosphorus in black shales

Condensation of oligoglycines with trimeta- and tetrametaphosphate in aqueous solutions

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