Prebiotic Chemistry: The Role of Trimetaphosphate in Prebiotic Chemical Evolution

Abstract

Life’s origins have always been a scientific puzzle. Understanding the production of biomolecules is crucial for understanding the evolution of life on Earth. Numerous studies on trimetaphosphate have been conducted in the field of prebiotic chemistry. However, its role in prebiotic chemistry has been documented infrequently in the review literature. The goal of this thesis is to review the role of trimetaphosphate in the early Earth’s biomolecule synthesis and phosphorylation. Additionally, various trimetaphosphate-mediated reaction pathways are discussed, as well as the role of trimetaphosphate in prebiotic chemistry. Finally, in our opinion, interactions between biomolecules should be considered in prebiotic synthesis scenarios since this may result in some advances in subsequent research on this subject. The research establishes an essential and opportune foundation for an in-depth examination of the “mystery of life".

ATP-Assisted Protocellular Membrane Formation with Ethanolamine-Based Amphiphiles

“…The size-controlling ability of phosphates was explored to demonstrate ATP-fueled transient membrane formation in the presence of phosphatases. Although phosphatases are likely to be absent in prebiotic environments, the hydrolysis of amino acid- N -triphosphate under ambient prebiotic conditions was reported. , Therefore, fuel-driven transient membrane formation under prebiotic conditions cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, we reported that the OLEA-ATP membrane is more stable in the presence of salt than the OLMEA-ATP membrane.…”

Prebiotic Synthesis of ATP: A Terrestrial Volcanism-Dependent Pathway

“…In addition to higher solubility, unlike reactions using phosphates, phosphorylation using polyphosphates does not require the removal of water or hydroxyl groups, which means it can occur in aquatic conditions [ 20 ]. Trimetaphosphate could be the most studied polyphosphate, which can phosphorylate sugars, glyceric acid, amino acids, and nucleosides under moderate conditions [ 25 , 26 ]. A weakness of the polyphosphate-based pathway is that the corresponding minerals are rare on Earth.…”

Prebiotic chemistry: a review of nucleoside phosphorylation and polymerization

“…As early as 1871, Darwin recognized the relevance of phosphate in protein synthesis in the origin of life [13,14]. Phosphorus also plays a significant role in the regulation of chemical evolution under prebiotic settings, and contributes to the synthesis of amino acids, nucleosides and other life-related raw materials, making it an indispensable component of prebiotic synthesis [15,16]. The majority of phosphorus on early Earth was in the form of water-insoluble minerals like apatite, which became the primary source of phosphorus for the Earth's phosphorus cycle [17].…”