Phosphorus Chemistry

The Role of Phosphorus in Prebiotic Chemistry

Yufen Zhao, Yan Liu, Xiang Gao, Pengxiang Xu

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9783110562378
• eBook ISBN: 9783110562453
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Evolution
• Index: Biological Sciences

The book is the first thorough study of the role of phosphorus chemistry in the origin of life. This book starts with depiction of the phosphorus role in life creation and evolution. Then it outlines in vital processes how different phosphorus-containing compounds participate as biomarker in life evolution. Written by renowned scientists, it is suitable for researchers and students in organic phosphorus chemistry and biochemistry.

1The international background of the origin of life

Where did life come from? The “extraterrestrial life hypothesis” postulates that the seeds of life originated from the outer space. However, life might have possibly originated on the Earth based on Miller’s reaction data. At the same time, phosphorus played a key role in the production of vital essential substances such as amino acids, proteins, nucleosides and nucleotides.

The origin of life is one of the eternal mysteries of mankind. Since Miller performed the discharge reaction in 1953, many scientists have performed countless experiments on the origin of life. They utilized inorganic small molecules containing C, H, N, O, S and P elements to build life materials: amino acids, nitrogenous bases (adenine (A)/guanine (G)/cytosine (C)/uracil (U) and nucleosides. They were then oligomerized into oligopeptides and oligonucleotides. These two kinds of building blocks are the basis of “protein origin” and “RNA origin.” In addition, the formation of the membrane is one of the most necessary conditions for the protocells. Therefore, a more reasonable original living system should contain proteins, nucleic acids and membranes. In 2015, Sutherland proposed that HCN, H2S, acetylene and phosphorus could simultaneously produce amino acids, uracil monophosphate (UMP) and phospholipid predecessors via a copper oxide oxidation reaction [1]. However, even if this co-origin hypothesis is reasonable, the most fundamental problem of primitive life should be the origin of genetic code. The origin of life could be in an order way only under the guidance of an efficient codon blueprint. The genetic material of life on Earth is DNA and phosphorus accounts for 9% of DNA. Phosphate diester plays a unique function in life activities. However, where the phosphorus comes from on the Earth? And is there presence of phosphorus on other planets? [2].

Although phosphorus is one of the trace elements in the universe, it is present at a much higher level in our life. Phosphorus in our life plays many basic biochemical functions, such as information storage by nucleic acids, energy transfer by adenine and guanine nucleotides, phospholipids and signal transmission by cyclic nucleotides.

1.1Original source of phosphorus

1.1.1Nuclear reactions

For nuclear reactions, in the synthesis of H, C, O, N, S and P (Table 1.1), the synthesis of phosphorus is quite different. First, the generation of phosphorus nuclei is carried out from the fuel of C and Ne only on a few celestial bodies with sufficient mass. Second, the yield of phosphorus is low (the combined yield is 2.5%) in many phosphorus nuclei-producing reactions. This fact also explains why phosphorus content is relatively low in the main elements of life.

Table 1.1: Nuclear reactions of life-related elements.

1.1.2Phosphorus surrounds celestial interval and interstellar space

There is little knowledge about the chemical properties of phosphorus that surround celestial bodies and interstellar spaces. Nonetheless, phosphorus has an unusual position compared to other major elements of life. The abundance of phosphorus is relatively rich in cosmic space and is at 17th among all elements in the universe [3]. At present, only phosphatides [4] and organophosphorus compounds [5] have been detected in interstellar space. In addition, neither PH3 nor phosphorus oxides may exist on the primitive Earth [6]. However, phosphorus oxides were predicted as the main form of phosphorus in interstellar space from the viewpoint of energy. This might be because of the observation error, as oxygen is mainly present in the form of carbon oxides in the detection of carbon-rich celestial bodies.

1.1.3Phosphorus in meteorites

The measurement of the composition of pellet meteorites, stone iron meteorites, lunar samples and Martian meteorites indicates that phosphorus is scarce but widely present in the solar system. Interestingly, the content of phosphorus in Shergotty, Nakhla and Chassigny (SNC) meteorites is higher than other types of meteorites and Earth rocks. Although these samples cannot represent all stars, it is very meaningful to explore the task of Mars in the future.

The analysis of the elements of Mars generally depends on the analysis of SNC series meteorites. The results are shown in Table 1.2.

In 2013, the spirit Mars probe in the United States detected phosphorus on Mars to be 5 to 10 times more than that present on the Earth [2].

Table 1.2: Meteorite phosphorus content.

1.1.4Phosphorus in comets

It was found that comets may contain certain amounts of phosphorus by the thorough monitoring of phosphorus anions PO2− and PO3− and phosphate rocks in interstellar dusts; these amounts are at least comparable to that found in the Sun. Thus, the evidence of presence of phosphorus oxides and phosphates in the center of the comet dust particles is still a challenging task, even though the present form of phosphorus in the comet is not clear yet.

1.1.5Alkyl phosphoric acid homologues

By studies conducted on alkyl phosphoric acid derivatives, it is found that organophosphorus compounds involved in pre-biochemical processes are transported primarily to the original Earth by the impact of stars and meteorites. Similarly, most of water and volatile matters present on Earth are converged by comets.

1.1.6Phosphorus in the crust

The total mass of the existing phosphorus in the crust is about 8 × 1020 g; it is 11th among all the elements present. Phosphorus content is rich in volcanic rocks, deformation rocks and sedimentary rocks. Scientists have calculated that comets and meteorites captured by primitive Earth at the later stage of growth may contribute to 10% of the total mass of phosphorus. It may provide a hypothetical view of phosphorus-containing compound to the original transport process of the Earth. Although phosphorus may be present in both positive trivalent and pentavalent states, almost all the phosphorus present in the lithosphere of the Earth is the phosphate type

Table 1.3 below shows the presence of phosphorus on Earth. It is worth mentioning that the terrestrial rocks and seabed sedimentary rocks have similar levels of phosphorus, but less phosphorus content in the oceans. Although it is not explicitly stated in this table, we predict (we predict the quality of C is 1018 g) that the total amount of phosphorus captured in the Earth’s biosphere is about 4 × 1016 g.

Table 1.3: Phosphorus on the Earth.

Reservoir	Mass content (g)
Igneous and metamorphic rocks on land	4.3 ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Foreword
• Preface I
• Preface II
• Contents
• 1 The international background of the origin of life
• 2 Why nature chose α-amino acids?
• 3 N-Phosphoryl amino acids – models for P–N bonds in prebiotic chemical evolution
• 4 Nucleoside-protein coevolution and the origin of genetic code
• 5 The phosphoryl transfer reactions of pentacoordinated phosphoryl amino acids
• 6 The research progress of chiral pentacoordinate spirophosphoranes with bis-α-amino acid bonds
• 7 A new theoretical model for the origin of amino acid homochirality
• 8 N-Phosphoryl amino acids and the origin of cell membranes
• 9 The potential evolution prototype of modern enzyme: Discovery of seryl–histidine dipeptide and its function
• 10 The interaction between ATP and amino acids
• 11 Marine and the origin of life