Geoelectrochemistry-driven alteration of amino acids to derivative organics in carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies

Yamei Li (), Norio Kitadai, Yasuhito Sekine, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Yuko Nakano and Kristin Johnson-Finn
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Yamei Li: Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Norio Kitadai: Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yasuhito Sekine: Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Hiroyuki Kurokawa: Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yuko Nakano: Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Kristin Johnson-Finn: Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract A long-standing question regarding carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) is how the CCs’ organics were sourced and converted before and after the accretion of their parent bodies. Growing evidence shows that amino acid abundances in CCs decrease with an elongated aqueous alteration. However, the underlying chemical processes are unclear. If CCs’ parent bodies were water-rock differentiated, pH and redox gradients can drive electrochemical reactions by using H2 as an electron source. Here, we simulate such redox conditions and demonstrate that α-amino acids are electrochemically altered to monoamines and α-hydroxy acids on FeS and NiS catalysts at 25 °C. This conversion is consistent with their enrichment compared to amino acid analogs in heavily altered CCs. Our results thus suggest that H2 can be an important driver for organic evolution in water-rock differentiated CC parent bodies as well as the Solar System icy bodies that might possess similar pH and redox gradients.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32596-3

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