Amino acid synthesis in Europa's subsurface environment

Abstract

It has been suggested that Europa's subsurface environment may provide a haven for prebiotic evolution and the development of exotic biotic systems. The detection of hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, water, hydrates and related species on the surface, coupled with observed mobility of icebergs, suggests the presence of a substantial subsurface liquid reservoir that actively exchanges materials with the surface environment. The atmospheric, surface and subsurface environments are described with their known chemistry. Three synthetic schemes using hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid and hydrocyanic acid leading to the production of larger biologically important molecules such as amino acids are described. Metabolic pathways based on properties of the subsurface ocean environment are detailed. Tidal heating, osmotic gradients, chemical cycling, as well as hydrothermal vents, provide energy and materials that may support a course of prebiotic evolution leading to the development or sustenance of simple biotic systems. Putative organisms may employ metabolic pathways based on chemical oxidation–reduction cycles occurring in the putative subsurface ocean environment.

Microchip capillary electrophoresis instrumentation for in situ analysis in the search for extraterrestrial life

“…In addition, there is a tenuous oxygen atmosphere (∼10 −11 bar) . The presence of liquid water combined with the geological activity and evidence of inorganic chemicals necessary for life as we know it suggests that there may be prebiotic evolutionary pathways leading to hydrothermal ecosystems (similar to those proposed as the origin of terrestrial life at the bottom of Earth's oceans ) under the icy crust on Europa .…”

Polymerization of Building Blocks of Life on Europa and Other Icy Moons

“…If Europa's seafloor has hydrothermal systems (Vance et al, 2007), they could be candidate sites that supply amino acids to the surface through tectonic deformation of the ice crust. Furthermore, synthetic schemes for the production of amino acids in Europa's subsurface ocean have been proposed (Abbas and Schulze-Makuch, 2008). Crustal cracking could erupt salty water including amino acids from the subsurface ocean to the surface, and subsequent refreezing of the salty water could concentrate these amino acids.…”

Exploring the Chemical Space of C2H3NO Isomers and Bimolecular Reactions with Hydrogen Cyanide and Formaldehyde: Insights into the Emergence of Life

“…Nitriles can give rise to ketenimines, isonitriles, and cyanates, some of which are prebiotic precursors. Isonitriles (RNC) or isocyanides can react with aldehydes and ketones to form imines, which then react with amino acids to form peptides. Imines (R 2 CNR) can react with cyanide to form α-amino nitriles, which can be hydrolyzed to form α-amino acids. − Imidic acids (R 2 C­(NR)­OH) have been suggested as precursors of α-amino acids because they can undergo decarboxylation to form ketenimines, which can then react with water or aldehydes to form amino acids Ethyne (R–CC–R) and its derivative can react to produce amino acids …”