Quantitatve evaluation of amino acid polymerization on oxide minerals

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26800276
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Geochemistry/Cosmochemistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kitadai Norio 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, WPI研究員 (80625723)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 生命の起源 / アストロバイオロジー / 化学進化 / ペプチド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I have examined the synthetic and polymerization behaviors of amino acids under various conditions. I determined a complete set of thermodynamic parameters for the 20 protein amino acids, three short peptides, and four non-protein amino acids. Calculations using the dataset suggested that Hadean alkaline hydrothermal settings, where steep pH and temperature gradients may have existed between cool, slightly acidic Hadean ocean water and hot, alkaline hydrothermal fluids at the vent-ocean interface, is energetically the most suitable environment for the synthesis and polymerization of protein-amino acids. As an experimental approach, I have examined the polymerization of glycine on nine oxide minerals. Polymerization activation was inferred to have arisen from deprotonation of the NH3+ group of adsorbed Gly to the nucleophilic NH2 group, and from withdrawal of electron density from the carboxyl carbon to the surface metal ions.

Free Research Field

地球生命科学