A suggested pioneer organism for the Wächtershäuser origin of life hypothesis.
A suggested pioneer organism for the Wächtershäuser origin of life hypothesis is presented. In this scenario, a cubic pyrite crystal edge serves as a catalytic surface for the production of a proto-nucleic acid. Computational analysis demonstrates how the vacant cubic pyrite edge could be populated by iron(II) and hydrogen phosphate, capped with a distorted iron pentacarbonyl. A bridging iron sulfide then forms blocking one side of the edge. The carbonyl on the other side of the edge can then react with either existing uracil or cytosine, to produce a nitrogen-iron carbonyl intermediate. This intermediate serves as a free radical initiator for a polymerization of carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen. After the fourth carbon is added to the chain, the polymerization is terminated by ring formation yielding a condensed ribose. The resultant product is a proto-nucleic acid, a pioneer organism.
Kundell
Frederick A
FA
Department of Chemistry, Henson School of Science and Technology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA. fakundell@salisbury.edu
D003198:Computer Simulation; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D000069497:Origin of Life
D058085:Iron Compounds; C515100:iron pentacarbonyl