Badd discovers the surprising role of calcium in shaping the earliest molecular structures of life

The new study conducted by scientists from the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Institute of Science Tokyo has discovered the surprising role of calcium in shaping the earliest molecular structures of life. Their discoveries suggest that calcium ions can selectively affect how primitive polymers are formed, throwing light on a long -term secret: how the molecules of life preferred a single “hand” (chirality).

Like our left and right hands, many molecules exist in two forms of mirror image. However, life on earth has striking preferences: DNA sugars are right -handed, while proteins are built of left -handed amino acids. This phenomenon, called homicirity, is necessary for life, because we know, but how it appeared remains the main puzzle in the field of life research.

The team examined the tartar acid (Ta), a straight molecule with two chiral centers to examine how the early land environment could have influenced the creation of homicir polymers. They discovered that calcium changes dramatically how these particles connect with each other. Without calcium, pure left or right -handed one easily polymerizes in polyesters, but mixtures containing equal amounts of both forms do not easily form polymers. However, in the presence of calcium, this pattern reverses Kalcium slows down the polymerization of pure, while enabling mixed polymerizing solutions.

“This suggests that the availability of calcium could create environments on early land, in which homogeneous polymers were preferred or reluctant,” says Chen Chen, a special doctor at the Riken Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS), which conducted the study. Scientists suggest that calcium drive this effect by two mechanisms: first, binding with the one with the formation of calcium vinians, which selectively remove equal amounts of molecules, both left and right hand from the solution; And secondly, changing the chemistry of the polymerization of other molecules. This process could strengthen small imbalances of chirality, which ultimately leads to a uniform hand observed in modern biomolecules.

What makes this study particularly intriguing is his suggestion that polymers with polyester formed of molecules, such as tartaric acid, should be one of the earliest molecules of homosal life, even before RNA, DNA or proteins. “The origin of life is often discussed in terms of biomolecules such as nucleic acids and amino acids,” explains the specially appointed extraordinary professor Elsi, Tony Z. Jia, who undertook the examination. “However, our work introduces an alternative perspective: that” other than biomolecules “, such as polyesters, could play a key role in the earliest steps towards life.”

The discoveries also emphasize how various environments on early soil could have influence on what types of polymers arose. Settings of poor calcium, such as some lakes or ponds, could promote homosium polymers, while calcium -rich environments could be favored by mixed chirality polymers.

In addition to chemistry, the study includes platforms many fields of scientific-biophysics, geology and material materials-how simple molecules affected dynamic prebiotic environments. The study is also the result of years of interdisciplinary cooperation, combining researchers from seven countries in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America.

We faced significant challenges in the integration of all complex chemical, biophysical and physical analyzes in a clear and logical way. But thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of our team, we discovered a new puzzle of life origin. “

Ruiqin yi, Co -chairman of the project from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

This study not only deepens our understanding of the beginnings of life on earth, but also suggest that similar processes can be available on other planets, helping scientists look for life outside our world.