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The adsorption of amino acids and cations onto goethite: a prebiotic chemistry experiment

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Abstract

Few prebiotic chemistry experiments have assessed the adsorption of biomolecules by iron oxide-hydroxides. The present work investigated the effects of cations in artificial seawaters on the adsorption of Gly, α-Ala and β-Ala onto goethite, and vice versa. Goethite served to concentrate K and Mg cations from solution; these effects could have played important roles in peptide nucleoside formation. Goethite showed low adsorption of Gly and α-Ala. On the other hand, β-Ala (a non-protein amino acid) was highly adsorbed by goethite. Because Gly and α-Ala are the most common amino acids in living beings, and iron oxide-hydroxides are widespread on Earth, additional iron oxides should be studied. Increased ionic strength in artificial seawaters decreased the adsorption of amino acids by goethite. Because Na was highly abundant in the artificial seawater, it showed the highest effect on amino acid adsorption. β-Ala increased the adsorption of K and Ca by goethite, this effect could have been important for peptide synthesis.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from Fundação Araucária (chamada 1, protocolo 23134), CNPq (474265/2013-7) and CNPq/Fundação Araucária (Programa de Apoio a Núcleos de Excelência–PRONEX, protocolo 24732).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Química Prebiótica, Departamento de Química-CCE, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, 86051-990, Brazil

    Ana Paula S. F. Farias, Cristine E. A. Carneiro & Dimas A. M. Zaia

  2. Departamento de Agronomia-CCA, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina‑PR, 86051‑990, Brazil

    Inês C. de Batista Fonseca

  3. Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas-CCB, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, 86051-990, Brazil

    Cássia T. B. V. Zaia

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  1. Ana Paula S. F. Farias
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Correspondence to Dimas A. M. Zaia.

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Farias, A.P.S.F., Carneiro, C.E.A., de Batista Fonseca, I.C. et al. The adsorption of amino acids and cations onto goethite: a prebiotic chemistry experiment. Amino Acids 48, 1401–1412 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-016-2191-6

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