A Combinatoric Approach A Combinatoric Approach to the Study of Mineral- to the Study of Mineral- Molecule Interactions Molecule Interactions Frontiers in Mineral Science 2007 Frontiers in Mineral Science 2007 Session A15: Mineral-Molecule Interactions Session A15: Mineral-Molecule Interactions June 28, 2007 June 28, 2007 Robert Hazen, Geophysical Laboratory Robert Hazen, Geophysical Laboratory
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A Combinatoric Approach to the Study of Mineral- Molecule Interactions A Combinatoric Approach to the Study of Mineral- Molecule Interactions Frontiers.
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A Combinatoric ApproachA Combinatoric Approachto the Study of Mineral-to the Study of Mineral-Molecule Interactions Molecule Interactions
A Combinatoric ApproachA Combinatoric Approachto the Study of Mineral-to the Study of Mineral-Molecule Interactions Molecule Interactions
Frontiers in Mineral Science 2007Frontiers in Mineral Science 2007Session A15: Mineral-Molecule InteractionsSession A15: Mineral-Molecule Interactions
Research CollaboratorsResearch CollaboratorsResearch CollaboratorsResearch CollaboratorsCarnegie Institution Hugh Churchill Jim Cleaves George Cody Gözen Ertem Tim Filley Rebecca Martin Jake Maule Andrew SteeleGeorge Washington Univ. Glenn Goodfriend Henry TengUniversity of Colorado Gifford Miller Steven DeVogel
University of Arizona Robert T. DownsGeorge Mason University Harold MorowitzJohns Hopkins University Dimitri Sverjensky Carnegie-Mellon University Aravind Asthagiri David ShollSmithsonian Institution Tim Gooding Detlef Rost Ed VicenziSpanish Astrobiology Inst. Antonio Salgado-Serrano
Research CollaboratorsResearch CollaboratorsResearch CollaboratorsResearch CollaboratorsCarnegie Institution Hugh Churchill Jim Cleaves Jim Cleaves George Cody Gözen Ertem Tim Filley Rebecca MartinRebecca Martin Jake MauleJake Maule Andrew SteeleAndrew SteeleGeorge Washington Univ. Glenn Goodfriend Henry TengUniversity of Colorado Gifford Miller Steven DeVogel
University of Arizona Robert T. DownsGeorge Mason University Harold MorowitzJohns Hopkins University Dimitri Sverjensky Dimitri Sverjensky Carnegie-Mellon University Aravind AsthagiriAravind Asthagiri David ShollSmithsonian Institution Tim Gooding Detlef Rost Ed VicenziEd VicenziSpanish Astrobiology Inst. Antonio Salgado-Serrano
Two QuestionsTwo Questions(Possibly Related)(Possibly Related)
Two QuestionsTwo Questions(Possibly Related)(Possibly Related)
2. What processes selected life’s idiosyncratic molecules?
1. How do crystals interact with organic molecules?
Origin of Biomolecules: The Problem
Origin of Biomolecules: The Problem
A fundamental attribute of life is a high degree of molecular selectivity and organization, but prebiotic synthesis processes are indiscriminate.
What prebiotic processes might have contributed to such selection and organization?
• Only 20 biological amino Only 20 biological amino acids compared to >90 in acids compared to >90 in Murchison meteoriteMurchison meteorite
• Only Only -H amino acids (i.e., -H amino acids (i.e., no no -methyl amino acids) -methyl amino acids)
• Homochirality – L >> RHomochirality – L >> R
Biological HomochiralityBiological HomochiralityBiological HomochiralityBiological HomochiralityMany of life’s essential molecules are chiral.Many of life’s essential molecules are chiral.
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(L)-enantiomer(L)-enantiomer
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(R)-enantiomer(R)-enantiomer
How did life on Earth become homochiral?How did life on Earth become homochiral?
Annual sales of chiral pharmaceuticals Annual sales of chiral pharmaceuticals approaches $200 billion.approaches $200 billion.
The most stable configuration found for D- and L-The most stable configuration found for D- and L-aspartic acid on calcite (214) surface. The D aspartic acid on calcite (214) surface. The D
enantiomer is favored by 8 Kcal/mol. enantiomer is favored by 8 Kcal/mol.