Meteorite amino acid triggers nanocavity formation in frequent clay
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 10, 2025
Researchers from the College of Amsterdam and Utrecht College have found that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid generally discovered on meteorites, can induce the formation of nanocavities within the mineral montmorillonite clay. This surprising discovering suggests a novel mechanism by which extraterrestrial molecules may have influenced the prebiotic chemistry that led to life on Earth.
The research, a part of the Dutch Analysis Council’s Planetary and ExoPlanetary Science Programme (PEPSci), provides new depth to the “heat little pond” idea. This idea proposes that interactions between minerals and natural compounds in shallow water environments catalyzed the formation of life’s constructing blocks. Whereas previous analysis has targeted on biologically related amino acids, the brand new work turns to GABA, which performs no identified function in protein synthesis and interacts solely weakly with clays.
“Due to its widespread incidence on meteorites, we thought it will be fascinating to research its potential function,” mentioned research co-author Annemieke Petrignani of the College of Amsterdam. “The outcomes actually stunned us!”
PhD candidate Orr Rose Bezaly, along with Petrignani and Helen King of Utrecht College, uncovered montmorillonite clay to various GABA concentrations. Utilizing infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and electron microscopy, they noticed a novel partial exfoliation process-where clay layers start to peel away from the inside-coinciding with the creation of nanocavities.
This atypical exfoliation is new not solely to prebiotic chemistry but in addition to broader supplies science. “We’re the primary to report on this, and we predict it may be fairly related,” Petrignani famous. “The nanoscale cavities we observe may facilitate the compartmentalisation that could be a basic requirement of a prebiotic system.”
Bezaly added that such confined areas could create native disequilibria, important for driving the synthesis of early biomolecules. “That is most related to chemistry that requires low water exercise, comparable to polymerisation,” Bezaly mentioned. “Our discovery thus factors us in the direction of a possible analysis route geared toward understanding nanoscale processes resulting in the emergence of life.”
Past origin-of-life implications, the exfoliation course of could have future functions in sustainable clay processing and novel materials design.
Nonetheless, Petrignani cautions that the analysis is in its early levels. “We’d like extra analysis to acquire deeper insights, for example into the chemical dynamics within the nanocavities, what formation pathway might be induced, and in addition if novel, bigger molecules are fashioned, how these may then go away the cavities.”
Analysis Report:Meteorite-common amino acid induces clay exfoliation and abiotic compartment formation
Associated Hyperlinks
Universiteit van Amsterdam
Lands Past Past – additional photo voltaic planets – information and science
Life Past Earth
