Evolution of organic compounds in volcanic regions

Mukhin, L. M.

doi:10.1038/251050a0

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…The involvement of volcanic exhalations in the origin of life has been invoked as early as 1974 (Mukhin 1974). Mukhin suggested volcanic carbon compounds as an additional source for the synthesis of organic compounds for the 'prebiotic broth'.…”

Section: The Overall Geochemical Situation Of the Pioneer Organismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to CO 2 and CO, volcanic carbonyl sulphide (COS; Corazza 1986) has been considered as nutrient (Wächtershäuser 1992). Cyano ligands occurring at volcanic sites (Mukhin 1974) and in two of the three hydrogenases are also possible nutrients. (ii) As to the source of reducing power, a number of inorganic sources of electrons have been suggested that exist today and must have always existed under volcanic conditions: -oxidative formation of pyrite (Wächtershäuser 1988b),…”

Section: The Basic Chemical Conditions Of the Pioneer Organismmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From volcanic origins of chemoautotrophic life to Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

Wächtershäuser¹

2006

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

245

225

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The theory of a chemoautotrophic origin of life in a volcanic iron-sulphur world postulates a pioneer organism at sites of reducing volcanic exhalations. The pioneer organism is characterized by a composite structure with an inorganic substructure and an organic superstructure. Within the surfaces of the inorganic substructure iron, cobalt, nickel and other transition metal centres with sulphido, carbonyl and other ligands were catalytically active and promoted the growth of the organic superstructure through carbon fixation, driven by the reducing potential of the volcanic exhalations. This pioneer metabolism was reproductive by an autocatalytic feedback mechanism. Some organic products served as ligands for activating catalytic metal centres whence they arose. The unitary structure-function relationship of the pioneer organism later gave rise to two major strands of evolution: cellularization and emergence of the genetic machinery. This early phase of evolution ended with segregation of the domains Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya from a rapidly evolving population of pre-cells. Thus, life started with an initial, direct, deterministic chemical mechanism of evolution giving rise to a later, indirect, stochastic, genetic mechanism of evolution and the upward evolution of life by increase of complexity is grounded ultimately in the synthetic redox chemistry of the pioneer organism.

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Section: The Overall Geochemical Situation Of the Pioneer Organismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Basic Chemical Conditions Of the Pioneer Organismmentioning

confidence: 99%

From volcanic origins of chemoautotrophic life to Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

Wächtershäuser¹

2006

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

245

225

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“…Mukhin [13] invoked volcanic sites, but merely as a source of ingredients for the prebiotic broth. Hydrothermal vents have been invoked as sites for the origin of life, but without recognition of a need for volcanic exhalations [14].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The involvement of volcanic, hydrothermal flow systems in the origin of life has been invoked as early as 1974 [13] for providing hydrogen cyanide (HCN) as a carbon source for the formation of organic compounds as additives to the prebiotic broth. In analogy to industrial production, HCN may be formed in a volcanic flow system by reaction of CO with NH 3 , which is favored thermodynamically by increasing temperature.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Chemistry and Evolution of the Pioneer Organism

Wächtershäuser¹

2007

Chemistry & Biodiversity

228

142

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The theory of a chemo-autotrophic origin of life in a volcanic Iron-Sulfur World postulates the emergence of a pioneer organism within a flow of volcanic exhalations. The pioneer organism is characterized by a composite structure with an inorganic substructure and an organic superstructure. Within the surfaces of the inorganic substructure, iron, cobalt, nickel, and other transition-metal centers with sulfido, carbonyl, cyano, and other ligands are catalytically active, and promote the growth of the organic superstructure through carbon fixation, driven by the reducing potential of the volcanic exhalations. This pioneer organism is reproductive by an autocatalytic feedback effect, whereby some organic products serve as ligands for activating the catalytic metal centres whence they arise. This unitary structure-function relationship of the pioneer organism constitutes the 'Anlage' for two major strands of evolution: enzymatization and cellularization, whereby the upward evolution of life by increase of molecular complexity is grounded ultimately in the transition metal-catalyzed, synthetic redox chemistry of the pioneer organism.

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“…According to their model, the fluctuations in pH at the interface between hydrothermal fluid and sea water would determine adsorption and desorption of the cyanide. In natural environments, the occurrence of ferrocyanides in hydrothermal systems has so far been reported only from the Kurile Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula in the northwest Pacific Ocean [103,104].…”

Section: (B) Hydrothermal Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of organic matter in space

Ehrenfreund

Spaans²,

Holm

2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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Carbon, and molecules made from it, have already been observed in the early Universe. During cosmic time, many galaxies undergo intense periods of star formation, during which heavy elements like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, silicon and iron are produced. Also, many complex molecules, from carbon monoxide to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are detected in these systems, like they are for our own Galaxy. Interstellar molecular clouds and circumstellar envelopes are factories of complex molecular synthesis. A surprisingly high number of molecules that are used in contemporary biochemistry on the Earth are found in the interstellar medium, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, comets, asteroids and meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. Large quantities of extra-terrestrial material were delivered via comets and asteroids to young planetary surfaces during the heavy bombardment phase. Monitoring the formation and evolution of organic matter in space is crucial in order to determine the prebiotic reservoirs available to the early Earth. It is equally important to reveal abiotic routes to prebiotic molecules in the Earth environments. Materials from both carbon sources (extra-terrestrial and endogenous) may have contributed to biochemical pathways on the Earth leading to life's origin. The research avenues discussed also guide us to extend our knowledge to other habitable worlds.

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Evolution of organic compounds in volcanic regions

Cited by 34 publications

References 1 publication

From volcanic origins of chemoautotrophic life to Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

From volcanic origins of chemoautotrophic life to Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

On the Chemistry and Evolution of the Pioneer Organism

The evolution of organic matter in space

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