Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno Mattia Bizzarri, Raffaele Saladino, Ines Delfino, Juan Manuel Garcia-Ruiz, Ernesto Di Mauro
Summary: Prebiotic chemistry aims to study molecular evolution events before the emergence of life on Earth or elsewhere in the cosmos, using geochemical scenarios and robust chemistry as experimental models. Recent research suggests that suitable chemical and physical conditions for life existed much earlier than previously thought, around 4.4 billion years ago. By connecting geochemistry to the chemistry of formamide through processes like serpentinization, we can understand how inorganic environments catalyze the production of organic molecules relevant to pre-genetic and pre-metabolic processes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lukas Petera, Klaudia Mrazikova, Lukas Nejdl, Kristyna Zemankova, Marketa Vaculovicova, Adam Pastorek, Svatopluk Civis, Petr Kubelik, Alan Heays, Giuseppe Cassone, Jiri Sponer, Martin Ferus, Judit Sponer
Summary: The research demonstrates that thymine can be synthesized from formamide in the presence of catalysts, and the presence of formic acid can also facilitate the conversion of uracil to thymine in the absence of catalysts. Experimental results and quantum chemical modeling support the feasibility of this reaction mechanism.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruvan de Graaf, Yannick De Decker, Victor Sojo, Reuben Hudson
Summary: The ongoing research on the emergence of life focuses on constructing hypothetical environments to produce organic molecules. Mineral catalysts are used in experiments to facilitate the supply of organics that may have produced prebiotic building blocks. However, most studies lack rigorous materials analyses and sub-stoichiometric amounts of metals or minerals, which are necessary to demonstrate the viability of catalysis. Future work should aim to decrease catalyst loading, increase productivity, and conduct rigorous materials analyses to provide evidence of true catalysis.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Venelin Enchev, Sofia Slavova
Summary: The study proposes mechanisms for the formylation of urea and the dehydration of glycinamide and N,N'-diformylurea, showing that these reactions are self-catalyzed. The origins of N3 and N9 atoms in hypoxanthine are traced back to urea. Additionally, a complete prebiotic reaction pathway for the formation of hypoxanthine is suggested.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Niels F. W. Ligterink, Kristina A. Kipfer, Salome Gruchola, Nikita J. Boeren, Peter Keresztes Schmidt, Coenraad P. de Koning, Marek Tulej, Peter Wurz, Andreas Riedo
Summary: Observations of chemical and physical peculiarities in Venus's atmosphere have raised speculations about the presence of life in its clouds. To search for signs of Venusian life, a Venus Life Finder mission with dedicated instruments is being prepared. The ORIGIN instrument, a laser desorption/laser ablation ionization mass spectrometer, is designed to detect biomolecules and analyze elemental composition. Recent studies with this instrument have investigated amino acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lipids, salts, metals, sulphur isotopes, and microbial elemental composition in Venus's atmosphere. The implementation of the ORIGIN instrument into a Venus Life Finder mission is discussed, highlighting its low weight and power consumption.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wataru Takahagi, Satoshi Okada, Yohei Matsui, Shigeaki Ono, Ken Takai, Yoshio Takahashi, Norio Kitadai
Summary: Increasing evidence suggests that early ocean hydrothermal systems were a source of ammonia, an important nitrogen species for the prebiotic synthesis of life's building blocks. Researchers have discovered that mackinawite, a common sulfide precipitate in these systems, is capable of adsorbing and accumulating ammonia, which may have played a crucial role in the origin of life.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
L. Chimiak, J. Eiler, A. Sessions, C. Blumenfeld, M. Klatte, B. M. Stoltz
Summary: Strecker synthesis is a significant mechanism in the chemistry of life's origin on Earth and other planets, creating a-amino acids from prebiotically plausible substrates. By measuring the carbon and nitrogen isotope effects, we can better understand the synthetic environments and unique signatures of abiogenic amino acids formed by Strecker synthesis.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Biology
Dominic Papineau, Kevin Devine, Bernardo Albuquerque Nogueira
Summary: The origin of life may have involved abiotic carbon redox reactions that produced lifelike patterns through chemically oscillating reactions (COR). COR are spontaneous, out-of-equilibrium, and redox reactions that decarboxylate carboxylic acids to produce CO2 and self-similar patterns. These patterns have circular concentricity, radial geometries, colour gradients, cavity structures, and branching, which are also observed in some eukaryotic lifeforms. Future research should investigate the role of halogens in biochemistry, COR in life-forms including humans, and the COR-stage of prebiotic carbon cycling on other planets like Mars.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zoe Perrin, Nathalie Carrasco, Audrey Chatain, Lora Jovanovic, Ludovic Vettier, Nathalie Ruscassier, Guy Cernogora
Summary: This study simulated the atmospheric haze formation process of Titan in the laboratory, showing that HCN serves as an effective precursor of Titan's haze and confirming the HCN-derived polymer nature of the haze.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Christophe Malaterre, Cyrille Jeancolas, Philippe Nghe
Summary: The origin of life is a complex question that has different interpretations in science. Depending on the constraints, the nature of this question varies from seeking explanations to establishing facts.
Review
Biology
Lena Vincent, Stephanie Colon-Santos, H. James Cleaves II, David A. Baum, Sarah E. Maurer
Summary: This paper discusses principles for selecting chemical mixtures for prebiotic chemistry experiments, reviews natural environmental conditions that may have created such mixtures, and suggests reasonable guidelines for designing recipes. It explores assembled and synthesized mixtures, and addresses practical concerns such as balancing prebiotically realistic mixtures with experimental tractability. The development of standardized prebiotic recipes and a public prebiotic chemistry database are advocated to facilitate coordination among researchers and identify promising mechanisms in the origin of life.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Martin Ferus, Vojtech Adam, Giuseppe Cassone, Svatopluk Civis, Vaclav Cuba, Elias Chatzitheodoridis, Barbora Drtinova, Bertrand LeFloch, Alan Heays, Sohan Jheeta, Akos Kereszturi, Antonin Knizek, Miroslav Krus, Petr Kubelik, Helmut Lammer, Libor Lenza, Lukas Nejdl, Adam Pastorek, Lukas Petera, Paul Rimmer, Raffaele Saladino, Franz Saija, Laurenz Spross, Jiri Sponer, Judit Sponer, Zoe Todd, Marketa Vaculovicova, Kristyna Zemankova, Vladislav Chernov
Summary: The existence of life beyond Earth has always been an important scientific question. Future observations of terrestrial exoplanets provide a unique opportunity to investigate this question. By studying other planetary systems, we can understand how physical and chemical environments evolve and gain insights into the early Earth. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully study the chemistry on young exoplanets and prepare reference materials for spectroscopic observations.
EXPERIMENTAL ASTRONOMY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ben W. F. Colville, Matthew W. Powner
Summary: The debate over the structure of life's first genetic polymer continues, with the RNA world theory proposing RNA as the first nucleic acid. However, simpler nucleic acids like TNA could also have carried genetic information. The study demonstrates a high-yielding, selective prebiotic synthesis of a key component of TNA, suggesting that TNA may have coexisted with RNA during the emergence of life.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Yasuji Sawada, Yasukazu Daigaku, Kenji Toma
Summary: Self-replicability is a unique attribute observed in all living organisms, and the question of how the life was physically initiated could be equivalent to the question of how self-replicating informative polymers were formed in the abiotic material world. It has been suggested that the present DNA and proteins world was preceded by an RNA world in which genetic information of RNA molecules was replicated by the mutual catalytic function of RNA molecules. However, the important question of how the transition occurred from a material world to the very early pre-RNA world remains unsolved both experimentally and theoretically. We present an onset model of mutually catalytic self-replicative systems formed in an assembly of polynucleotides. A quantitative expression of the critical condition for the onset of growing fluctuation towards self-replication in this model is obtained by analytical and numerical calculations.
Review
Biology
J. W. Halley
Summary: Some standard arguments are reviewed supporting deep ocean trenches as a likely location for the origin of terrestrial life. Proteomic analysis of contemporary prokaryotes and coarse-grained simulations provide evidence in favor of this hypothesis, suggesting further exploration through experiments and theoretical research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudio Piombino, Heiko Lange, Federica Sabuzi, Pierluca Galloni, Valeria Conte, Claudia Crestini
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paola Gianni, Heiko Lange, Claudia Crestini
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Reza Ebrahimi Majdar, Claudia Crestini, Heiko Lange
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Simone Cailotto, Matteo Gigli, Massimo Bonini, Federica Rigoni, Claudia Crestini
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Anna Trubetskaya, Heiko Lange, Bernd Wittgens, Anders Brunsvik, Claudia Crestini, Ulrika Rova, Paul Christakopoulos, J. J. Leahy, Leonidas Matsakas
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Petter Paulsen Thoresen, Heiko Lange, Claudia Crestini, Ulrika Rova, Leonidas Matsakas, Paul Christakopoulos
Summary: The extraction of lignin from silver birch under varying process conditions results in lignins with characteristic bonding motifs. High ethanol content extraction generates low molecular weight lignins suitable for producing free phenolics, while higher acid catalyst content leads to oxidation of side chains and the potential production of lignins with various applications. Increasing the acid catalyst content generates lignin with potential applications such as antioxidants, carbon fiber, nanoparticles, and water remediation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lili Zhen, Heiko Lange, Claudia Crestini
Summary: Both condensed and hydrolysable tannins are versatile natural polyphenolic structures with various activities that can be used in different fields. Researchers have analyzed a selection of commercially available tannins for their structural features and purity using a combination of analytical techniques, ensuring the accuracy of the claimed features.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luc Zongo, Heiko Lange, Claudia Crestini
Summary: Microcapsules of sulfited Acacia mearnsii tannin (AmST-MCs) were generated for the first time using sonochemical method. The study found excellent stability of TMCs over time and under high temperature and pressure conditions, with active release triggered by varying pH and salinity. Surfactants and salt components in solutions also significantly affected the stability of TMCs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lili Zhen, Heiko Lange, Luc Zongo, Claudia Crestini
Summary: The development of a simple and robust approach has allowed for the selective functionalization of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, opening up novel valorization routes. Different commercial tannins can efficiently be functionalized by generating an ether linkage bound to a short linker carrying desired functional groups. This strategy is also suitable for synthesizing polyethylene glycol-functionalized tannin copolymers, and converting condensed tannins with carboxylic acid moieties into tannin-oligopeptide hybrids.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Simone Cailotto, Daniele Massari, Matteo Gigli, Carlotta Campalani, Massimo Bonini, Shujie You, Alberto Vomiero, Maurizio Selva, Alvise Perosa, Claudia Crestini
Summary: In this study, beer byproducts were transformed into carbon dots using a hydrothermal approach. The prepared carbon dots were found to have high N-doping and exhibited optical properties. The composite hydrogel formed by entrapping the carbon dots showed efficient dye removal ability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elisa Vignali, Matteo Gigli, Simone Cailotto, Loredano Pollegioni, Elena Rosini, Claudia Crestini
Summary: A laccase-Lig multienzymatic multistep system was developed for lignin depolymerization. The overall reactivity of the system is heavily dependent on the individual lignin structure, leading to either depolymerization or polymerization of lignin.
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elisa Vignali, Matteo Gigli, Simone Cailotto, Loredano Pollegioni, Elena Rosini, Claudia Crestini
Summary: A multi-enzyme multi-step system for lignin depolymerization was developed and tested on different types of lignins. The system was shown to cleave non-phenolic aryl glycerol beta-O-4 aryl ether bonds, and the overall reactivity was found to be dependent on the individual lignin structure.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dimitris D. S. Argyropoulos, Claudia Crestini, Christian Dahlstrand, Erik Furusjo, Claudio Gioia, Kerstin Jedvert, Gunnar Henriksson, Christian Hulteberg, Martin Lawoko, Clara Pierrou, Joseph S. M. Samec, Elena Subbotina, Henrik Wallmo, Martin Wimby
Summary: Kraft lignin, a by-product of pulp production, can be separated from black liquor to reduce the load on recovery boilers and increase pulp production, while also generating valuable bioenergy. In recent years, there has been growing interest in developing and utilizing this underutilized resource. This review provides an overview of Kraft lignin, its applications, and evaluates its value chains from black liquor to different products. It is anticipated that this work will inspire further development and use of Kraft lignin for new applications, promoting global sustainability concerns.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giulia Guidotti, Daniele Massari, Matteo Gigli, Michelina Soccio, Valentina Siracusa, Claudia Crestini, Nadia Lotti
Summary: This research focuses on the preparation of fully biomass-derived blends from natural extracts and polyester to develop an innovative packaging system. The addition of natural extracts increases the flexibility and toughness of the blends and enhances the diffusion of CO2, while also providing antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matteo Gigli, Claudia Crestini
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nizar Lefi, Salem Neily, Roland Bonnet
Summary: This paper investigates the elastic field in a bi-material crystal with an angular dislocation line with one branch placed in the crystal and the other along a strongly bound or welded interface. The analysis formulates the elastic field of a closed dislocation loop and solves it using the knowledge of the Green's tensor of the bi-material. The study provides a faster calculation method and has important implications for solving interfacial angular dislocation problems.
PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE
(2024)
