High-energy chemistry of formamide: A unified mechanism of nucleobase formation

0442228 - FZÚ 2016 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Ferus, M. - Nesvorný, D. - Šponer, J. - Kubelík, Petr - Michalčíková, R. - Shestivska, V. - Šponer, J.E. - Civiš, S.
High-energy chemistry of formamide: A unified mechanism of nucleobase formation.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Roč. 112, č. 3 (2015), s. 657-662. ISSN 0027-8424. E-ISSN 1091-6490
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : origin of life * asteroid impact * biomolecules * LIDB
Subject RIV: CF - Physical ; Theoretical Chemistry
Impact factor: 9.423, year: 2015

The coincidence of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) period and the emergence of terrestrial life about 4 billion years ago suggest that extraterrestrial impacts could contribute to the synthesis of the building blocks of the first life-giving molecules. We simulated the high-energy synthesis of nucleobases from formamide during the impact of an extraterrestrial body. A high-power laser has been used to induce the dielectric breakdown of the plasma produced by the impact. The results demonstrate that the initial dissociation of the formamide molecule could produce a large amount of highly reactive CN and NH radicals. Our findings demonstrate that extraterrestrial impacts, which were one order of magnitude more abundant during the LHB period than before and after, could not only destroy the existing ancient life forms, but could also contribute to the creation of biogenic molecules.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0245092