Muscovite mica has many advantages as a site for the origins of life and is compatible with the RNA World, Lipid World, and Metabolism First scenarios. Moving mica sheets provide mechanical energy sufficient to power the synthesis of molecules and the blebbing off of protocells in an early form of cell division (1-3). Muscovite mica also has 2 delocalized hydrogens, available for reducing molecules, in each formula unit: K Al2 (Al Si3 O10) (OH)2. Are these 2 delocalized hydrogens able to reduce molecules via the Reductive Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, such as the reaction of oxaloacetate to malate and the reaction of oxalosuccinate to isocitrate? Hydrogen can tunnel a distance of 0.27 nm and can also move along water molecules via the Grotthuss mechanism (4). Simulations are being done to test whether this mechanism appears to be favorable for reducing molecules between mica sheets via the Reductive Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, for synthetic organic reactions in a prebiotic world. Thank you to Professor Gabriel Hanna for helpful discussions.   1. Hansma, H G (2010). Journal of Theoretical Biology 266(1): 175-188.2. Hansma, H G (2013).J. Biol. Struct. Dynamics 31(8): 888-89.3. Hansma, H G (2009) in: Probing Mechanics at Nanoscale Dimensions. Eds: N. Tamura, A. Minor, C. Murray and L. Friedman. Warrendale, PA, Materials Research Society. 1185: II03-15.4. Hammes-Schiffer, S and A A Stuchebrukhov (2010) Chem Rev 110(12) 6939-6960.

Proton-coupled electron transfer, Muscovite mica, and the origins of life

248th National Meeting (2014)

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