TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhanced Synthesis of Alkyl Amino Acids in Miller's 1958 H 2S Experiment
AU - Parker, Eric T.
AU - Cleaves, H. James
AU - Callahan, Michael P.
AU - Dworkin, Jason P.
AU - Glavin, Daniel P.
AU - Lazcano, Antonio
AU - Bada, Jeffrey L.
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - Stanley Miller's 1958 H 2S-containing experiment, which included a simulated prebiotic atmosphere of methane (CH 4), ammonia (NH 3), carbon dioxide (CO 2), and hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) produced several alkyl amino acids, including the α-, β-, and γ-isomers of aminobutyric acid (ABA) in greater relative yields than had previously been reported from his spark discharge experiments. In the presence of H 2S, aspartic and glutamic acids could yield alkyl amino acids via the formation of thioimide intermediates. Radical chemistry initiated by passing H 2S through a spark discharge could have also enhanced alkyl amino acid synthesis by generating alkyl radicals that can help form the aldehyde and ketone precursors to these amino acids. We propose mechanisms that may have influenced the synthesis of certain amino acids in localized environments rich in H 2S and lightning discharges, similar to conditions near volcanic systems on the early Earth, thus contributing to the prebiotic chemical inventory of the primordial Earth.
AB - Stanley Miller's 1958 H 2S-containing experiment, which included a simulated prebiotic atmosphere of methane (CH 4), ammonia (NH 3), carbon dioxide (CO 2), and hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) produced several alkyl amino acids, including the α-, β-, and γ-isomers of aminobutyric acid (ABA) in greater relative yields than had previously been reported from his spark discharge experiments. In the presence of H 2S, aspartic and glutamic acids could yield alkyl amino acids via the formation of thioimide intermediates. Radical chemistry initiated by passing H 2S through a spark discharge could have also enhanced alkyl amino acid synthesis by generating alkyl radicals that can help form the aldehyde and ketone precursors to these amino acids. We propose mechanisms that may have influenced the synthesis of certain amino acids in localized environments rich in H 2S and lightning discharges, similar to conditions near volcanic systems on the early Earth, thus contributing to the prebiotic chemical inventory of the primordial Earth.
KW - Hydrogen sulfide
KW - Spark discharge
KW - Stanley Miller
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857923628&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11084-011-9253-2
DO - 10.1007/s11084-011-9253-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 22139514
AN - SCOPUS:84857923628
SN - 0169-6149
VL - 41
SP - 569
EP - 574
JO - Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
JF - Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres
IS - 6
ER -