The role of pyrite for prebiotic synthesis and primitive life forms in the deep subsurface

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26287133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Petrology/Mineralogy/Economic geology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Yohey 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 准教授 (00359168)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 鈴木 道生 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (10647655) ; 小暮 敏博 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 教授 (50282728)
• Research Collaborator: Banfield Jillian Fiona University of California, Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, Professor ; Kouduka Mariko 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 特任研究員 (60706365) ; Ino Kohei 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 生命の起源 / ナノ黄鉄鉱 / バイオミネラル / 深海艇熱水噴出域

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to clarify the role of pyrite in serving as a major catalyst of prebiotic synthesis. Firstly, we performed proteomic analysis of pyrite-bearing sclerite of the scaly-foot gastropod and identified a small protein molecule that chelates Fe(III). By using a chemically analogous protein commercially available, we succeed in the synthesis of nano crystalline pyrite, suggesting that pyrite is in turn controlling the prebiotic synthesis. We also performed metagenomic analysis of subsurface microbes in terrestrial granitic rocks and found primitive life forms closely related the last universal common ancestor. Together, we discovered biochemical processes and life forms potentially important for the study of the emergence of life on Earth.

Free Research Field

地球微生物学