title: Prebiotic microreactors: a synthesis of purines and dihydroxy compounds in aqueous aerosol.
abstract: We report the synthesis of purine bases and other heterocycles and the formation of amino acids, hydroxy acids and dihydroxy compounds by the spark activation of an atmosphere of methane, nitrogen and hydrogen, in the presence of an aqueous aerosol. With the aid of the interface air-water, the organic material obtained shows greater amounts and diversity of molecules with biological interest than the products obtained in the absence of an aerosol. Our results support the suggestion that aerosols may have played a significant role in the prebiotic origin of molecular diversity and evolution.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Astrobiología [Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (CSIC-INTA)], Carretera Torrejón-Ajalvir, km 4,2, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Bermejo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menor-Salván
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Osuna-Esteban
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veintemillas-Verdaguer
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000737:chemistry; D000388:Air; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods*; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006880:Hydroxy Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011687:Purines / Q000737:chemistry; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000596:Amino Acids; D006880:Hydroxy Acids; D011687:Purines; D014867:Water; D006859:Hydrogen; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane