Recent Advances in Origins of Life Research by Biophysicists in Japan

Jia, Tony Z.; Kuruma, Yutetsu

doi:10.3390/challe10010028

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 180 publications

(204 reference statements)

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“…These nanosized peptides assemble spontaneously or by other chemical attraction or bond formation processes to form fibers and filaments that are a few micrometers in length [33]. These characteristic structures can be observed using electron microscopy [39,40]. Jia & Kuruma 2019 [39] have stated the wide application of state of the art imaging techniques in the interpretation of various self-assembling systems and thus it could be a useful tool in the origin of life research.…”

Section: Complex Structure Formation and Consequences For The Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These characteristic structures can be observed using electron microscopy [39,40]. Jia & Kuruma 2019 [39] have stated the wide application of state of the art imaging techniques in the interpretation of various self-assembling systems and thus it could be a useful tool in the origin of life research.…”

Section: Complex Structure Formation and Consequences For The Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shock Processing of Amino Acids Leading to Complex Structures—Implications to the Origin of Life

et al. 2020

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The building blocks of life, amino acids, are believed to have been synthesized in the extreme conditions that prevail in space, starting from simple molecules containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. However, the fate and role of amino acids when they are subjected to similar processes largely remain unexplored. Here we report, for the first time, that shock processed amino acids tend to form complex agglomerate structures. Such structures are formed on timescales of about 2 ms due to impact induced shock heating and subsequent cooling. This discovery suggests that the building blocks of life could have self-assembled not just on Earth but on other planetary bodies as a result of impact events. Our study also provides further experimental evidence for the ‘threads’ observed in meteorites being due to assemblages of (bio)molecules arising from impact-induced shocks.

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Section: Complex Structure Formation and Consequences For The Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Complex Structure Formation and Consequences For The Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shock Processing of Amino Acids Leading to Complex Structures—Implications to the Origin of Life

et al. 2020

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“…provide great insights at micro and nanoscale revealing the basic architecture, morphology, surface properties, microstructures, and interfaces of biopolymers which is an essential tool to determine their ideal application (Venkateshaiah et al, 2020). The remarkable application of the microscopic technique in the interpretation of various self-assembling systems and its application in the origin of life research has also been discussed by Jia & Kuruma (2019).…”

Section: Sample Preparation For Scanning Electron Microscope (Sem) and High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (Hrtem) Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Complex structures synthesized in shock processing of nucleobases – implications to the origins of life

Surendra

Vishakantaiah

Muruganantham

et al. 2021

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Nucleobases are nitrogenous bases composed of monomers that are a major constituent of RNA and DNA, which are an essential part of any cellular life on the Earth. The search for nucleobases in the interstellar medium remains a major challenge, however, the recent detection of nucleobases in meteorite samples and laboratory synthesis in simulated analogue experiments have confirmed their abiotic origin and a possible route for their delivery to the Earth. Nevertheless, cellular life is based on the interacting network of complex structures, and there is substantial lack of information on the possible routes by which such ordered structures may be formed in the prebiotic environment. In the current study, we present the evidence for the synthesis of complex structures due to shock processing of nucleobases. The nucleobases were subjected to the reflected shock temperature of 3500–7000 K (estimated) and pressure of about 15–34 bar for over ~2 ms timescale. Under such extreme thermodynamic conditions, the nucleobases sample experiences superheating and subsequent cooling. Electron microscopic studies of shock processed residue show that nucleobases result in spontaneous formation of complex structures when subjected to extreme conditions of shock. These results suggest that impact shock processes might have contributed to the self-assembly of biologically relevant structures and the origin of life.

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“…Although the first primitive compartments on Earth may have indeed been membraneless, and many membraneless organelles provide important biological functions within extant cells (suggesting the importance of phase separation throughout evolution) [1,29], at some point in history, a membrane-bound cell-like compartment must have preceded modern cells. Such a membrane-bound protocell could have taken the form of lipid-bound liposomes or vesicles [30][31][32], perhaps initially composed of simpler fatty acids [33,34] with subsequent evolution first into mixed amphiphile membranes [35][36][37] and finally into the phospholipid-containing form reminiscent of modern membranes [38].…”

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confidence: 99%