Olivine-catalyzed glycolaldehyde and sugar synthesis under aqueous conditions : Application to prebiotic chemistry
Vinogradoff, Vassilissa (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Aix-Marseille)
Leyva, Vanessa (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Côte d'Azur)
Mates-Torres, Eric (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Pepino, Raphael (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Côte d'Azur)
Danger, Grégoire (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Aix-Marseille)
Rimola Gibert, Albert (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Cazals, Lauryane (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Aix-Marseille)
Serra, Coline (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Aix-Marseille)
Pascal, Robert (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Aix-Marseille)
Meinert, Cornelia (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Université Côte d'Azur)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	The presence of minerals in the prebiotic environment likely shaped the evolution of organic matter, thereby contributing to the emergence of prebiotic systems. Records of such systems are lacking and the interactions between abiotic organic matter and primary minerals remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the ability of olivine silicates, in simulated early Earth or planetary aqueous environments, to catalyse glycolaldehyde formation from only formaldehyde, and help producing sugars that are essential components for life, through the formose reaction. By combining comprehensive gas chromatography analyses on experimental samples with quantum chemical simulations, we provide a mechanism for an olivine-catalyzed glycolaldehyde formation. Our findings suggest that olivine plays a triple role in the formose chemical network: maintaining an alkaline pH, enabling the initiation step towards the formation of glycoladehyde (which is typically the most challenging step) and promoting the autocatalytic cycle. These results open-up new scenarios on the impact of primary minerals on the evolution of chemical pathways in aqueous environments that were probably essential for the emergence of the first biomolecules.
Grants:	European Commission 804144 European Commission 865657 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-126427NB-I00
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Olivine catalysis ; Formose reaction ; Sugars ; Phyllosilicates ; Prebiotic chemistry ; Aqueous alteration
Published in:	Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 626 (January 2024) , art. 118558, ISSN 1385-013X

DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118558

8 p, 3.3 MB

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