Confinement and Time Immemorial: Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleotides on a Porous Mineral Nanoreactor

J Phys Chem Lett. 2019 Aug 1;10(15):4192-4196. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b01448. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

Abstract

We report the successful one-pot synthesis of adenosine mono-, di-, and triphosphate in the confined space of a mordenite zeolite. This is also the first report of ATP synthesized onto a porous mineral surface. The results revealed a plausible prebiotic route to ribonucleotides and highlighted the contribution of microporous minerals in the origins of life.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / chemistry
  • Adenosine Diphosphate / chemical synthesis*
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / chemical synthesis*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemical synthesis*
  • Aluminum Silicates / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Organophosphates / chemistry
  • Origin of Life
  • Porosity
  • Ribose / chemistry
  • Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques / methods*
  • Surface Properties
  • Thermodynamics
  • Time Factors
  • Zeolites / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aluminum Silicates
  • Organophosphates
  • mordenite
  • Zeolites
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Adenosine Diphosphate
  • Ribose
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Adenine