title: Comment on "The silicate-mediated formose reaction: bottom-up synthesis of sugar silicates".
abstract: Lambert et al. (Reports, 19 February 2010, p. 984) reported that silicate ions catalyze the formation and stabilization of four- and six-carbon sugars from simple sugars, suggesting a possible prebiotic pathway for the synthesis of biologically important sugars. Here, we show that silicate has minimal impact in these respects, especially when compared to borate minerals.
authors: Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA.
authors: Hyo-Joong
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Steven A
authors: SA
authors: Benner
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D001089:Arabinose / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001881:Borates / Q000737:chemistry; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D005985:Glyceraldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012266:Ribose / Q000737:chemistry; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D002241:Carbohydrates; D017640:Silicates; D005985:Glyceraldehyde; D012266:Ribose; C010963:formose sugars; D001089:Arabinose; D000079:Acetaldehyde; C005691:sodium silicate; C010972:glycolaldehyde