title: The key role of meteorites in the formation of relevant prebiotic molecules in a formamide/water environment.
abstract: We show that carbonaceous chondrite meteorites actively and selectively catalyze the formation of relevant prebiotic molecules from formamide in aqueous media. Specific catalytic behaviours are observed, depending on the origin and composition of the chondrites and on the type of water present in the system (activity: thermal > seawater > pure). We report the one-pot synthesis of all the natural nucleobases, of aminoacids and of eight carboxylic acids (forming, from pyruvic acid to citric acid, a continuous series encompassing a large part of the extant Krebs cycle). These data shape a general prebiotic scenario consisting of carbonaceous meteorites acting as catalysts and of a volcanic-like environment providing heat, thermal waters and formamide. This scenario also applies to the other solar system locations that experienced rich delivery of carbonaceous materials, and whose physical-chemical conditions could have allowed chemical evolution.
authors.affiliation: Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rotelli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC), Meteorites, Minor Bodies and Planetary Sciences Group, Campus UAB Bellaterra, Carrer de Can Magrans, s/n 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Trigo-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC), Meteorites, Minor Bodies and Planetary Sciences Group, Campus UAB Bellaterra, Carrer de Can Magrans, s/n 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Moyano-Cambero
authors.affiliation: Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carota
authors.affiliation: Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.affiliation: Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.affiliation: Biological and Ecological Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saladino
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002384:Catalysis; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D005559:Formamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D019110:Meteoroids; D000069497:Origin of Life; D011687:Purines / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005559:Formamides; D011687:Purines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014867:Water; C031066:formamide