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A suggested pioneer organism for the wächtershäuser origin of life hypothesis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20559733     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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.
Authors:
Frederick A Kundell
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-06-18
Journal Detail:
Title:  Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere : the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life     Volume:  41     ISSN:  1573-0875     ISO Abbreviation:  Orig Life Evol Biosph     Publication Date:  2011 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-03-14     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8610391     Medline TA:  Orig Life Evol Biosph     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  175-98     Citation Subset:  IM; S    
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Henson School of Science and Technology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA, fakundell@salisbury.edu.
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