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Formation of RNA and Proteins by High-Pressure Torsion: An Insight into the Origin of Life

Research Project

Project/Area Number 22K18737
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Medium-sized Section 17:Earth and planetary science and related fields
Research InstitutionKyushu University

Principal Investigator

エダラテイ カベー  九州大学, カーボンニュートラル・エネルギー国際研究所, 准教授 (60709608)

Project Period (FY) 2022-06-30 – 2025-03-31
Project Status Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥6,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥5,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥2,210,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥510,000)
KeywordsOrigin of Life / High-Pressure Torsion / Protein / Amino Acids / RNA
Outline of Research at the Start

This project challenges to shed light on the origin of life by mechanical production of protein and RNA as two essential biomolecules. Since such a mechanical production could possibly happen by meteoroid/asteroid/comet collision in the early earth conditions, the collisions are simulated by high-pressure torsion (HPT) under high pressure, high strain and high temperature. The project focuses on the processing of amino acids and adenosine monophosphate which are the building blocks of RNA and protein.

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

L-glutamic acid, and L-serine, as two amino acids detected in meteorites, were further processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) and examined by ex situ X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and in situ mechanical shear testing. No polymerization, chemical reactions, or phase transformations are detected after HPT, indicating that the stability and presence of these two amino acids in meteorites are quite reasonable. However, some microstructural and mechanical changes like crystal size reduction to the nanometer level, crystal defect formation, lattice expansion by vacancy formation, and shear strength enhancement to the steady state are found. HPT was also applied to adenosine monophosphate as a monomer for the formation of DNA and RNA. The material shows some structural and chemical changes that need to be examined by detailed analyses in FY2024. Such changes are more severe in the presence of water.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.

Reason

we completed our detailed analysis of three main amino acids and we also could process adenosine monophosphate. It was also possible to establish a mass spectroscopy system in the laboratory which will further enhance the quality of analyses to find a piece of evidence for the formation of polymers by astronomical impacts.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The main focus in FY2024 will be on the analysis of adenosine monophosphate with different characterization methods including ex situ X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and in situ mechanical shear testing. Moreover, a mixture of amino acids will be subjected to high-pressure torsion to find if polymerization can occur. The effect of phosphoric acid and an oxide mineral on the behavior of amino acids will be examined as well.

Report

(2 results)
  • 2023 Research-status Report
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (15 results)

All 2024 2023 2022 Other

All Int'l Joint Research (1 results) Journal Article (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results,  Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 2 results) Presentation (6 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results,  Invited: 3 results) Remarks (5 results)

  • [Int'l Joint Research] The University of Unicamp(ブラジル)

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Journal Article] High-pressure torsion processing of serine and glutamic acid: understanding mechanochemical behavior of amino acids under astronomical impacts2024

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, J. Hidalgo-Jimnez, T.T. Nguyen, M. Watanabe, I. Taniguchi
    • Journal Title

      Advanced Engineering Materials

      Volume: 26 Pages: 2302267-2302267

    • DOI

      10.1002/adem.202302267

    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] High-pressure torsion: from miniature earthquake to the origin of life2023

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, I. Taniguchi, R. Floriano, A. Ducati Luchessi
    • Journal Title

      Key Engineering Materials

      Volume: 967 Pages: 167-173

    • DOI

      10.4028/p-oz9xjs

    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Glycine amino acid transformation under impacts by small solar system bodies, simulated by high-pressure torsion method2022

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, I. Taniguchi, R. Floriano, A. Ducati Luchessi,
    • Journal Title

      Scientific Reports

      Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Pages: 5677-5677

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41598-022-09735-3

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Mechanochemical response of adenosine monophosphate to high-pressure torsion and comparison with amino acids2024

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, J. Hidalgo- Jimenez, T.T. Nguyen
    • Organizer
      The 174th Annual Spring Meeting of the Japan Institute of Metals and Materials
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] High-pressure torsion: from miniature earthquake to the origin of life2023

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, I. Taniguchi, R. Floriano, A. Ducati Luchessi
    • Organizer
      The 12th International Conference on Processing and Manufacturing of Advanced Materials, Processing, Fabrication, Properties and Applications (THERMEC)
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Severe plastic deformation and the origin of life2023

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati
    • Organizer
      The Second International Workshop on Superfunctional Energy/Nano Materials (SENM2023)
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Application of high-pressure torsion to amino acids as essential molecules for life2023

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, I. Taniguchi, R. Floriano, A. Ducati Luchessi
    • Organizer
      Annual Spring Meeting of The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials, Tokyo, Japan
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] From functional nanomaterials to the origin of life by high-pressure torsion2023

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati
    • Organizer
      The 8th International Conference on Nanomaterials by Severe Plastic Deformation (NanoSPD8), Bangalore, India
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] High-pressure torsion and the origin of life2022

    • Author(s)
      K. Edalati, I. Taniguchi, R. Floriano, A. Ducati Luchessi
    • Organizer
      International Conference on Strength of Materials (ICSMA19), Metz, France
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Remarks] Press release in an Brazilian TV program

    • URL

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbsZC01RG78

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] Novo método para simular impacto de ...

    • URL

      https://gizmodo.uol.com.br/novo-metodo-para-simular-impacto-de-cometas-e-asteroides-ajuda-a-investigar-origem-da-vida-na-terra/

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] Novo método para simular o impacto de ...

    • URL

      https://agencia.fapesp.br/novo-metodo-para-simular-o-impacto-de-cometas-e-asteroides-ajuda-a-investigar-a-origem-da-vida-na-terra/38856/

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] Exploso no laboratrio cria tcnica para estudar ...

    • URL

      https://www.inovacaotecnologica.com.br/noticias/noticia.php?artigo=explosao-laboratorio-estudar-impactos-meteoritos&id=010130220530#.ZDEi-HZBxD9

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] Origem da vida: impacto de meteoritos na ...

    • URL

      https://olhardigital.com.br/2022/06/13/ciencia-e-espaco/origem-da-vida-impacto-de-meteoritos-na-terra-pode-trazer-respostas-indica-pesquisa-brasileira/

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report

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Published: 2022-07-05   Modified: 2024-12-25  

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