Presentation Information
[U17-06]Computational Studies on the Catalytic Roles of Formic Acid in Formation of Initial Biomolecules
*Tomoki Nakayoshi1,2, Ayato Mizuno1, Koichi Kato1,3, Akifumi Oda1 (1.Meijo Univ., 2.Nagoya Univ., 3.Shonan Univ. Med. Sci.)
On the primitive Earth, the fundamental organic compounds constituting the basis of life are believed to be synthesized from the simple molecules. Although existing life uses enzymes to rapidly achieve various complex reactions under mild conditions, enzymes are proteins and/or nucleic acids, which are macromolecules, and it have not been assumed that enzymes existed on the primitive Earth. Therefore, it is necessary that initial biomolecules are synthesized in the absence of enzymes. It is considered that catalysts are required for the progression of various nonenzymatic reactions and that miscellaneous molecules in the environment acted as catalysts on the primitive Earth. Formic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid and has been reported to be synthesized from carbon monoxide (CO) and water on metal surfaces and under X-ray irradiations. Therefore, it is assumed that the formic acid was assumed to be abundant in CO world environment. Formic acid is expected to act as a proton-relay mediator and to prevent the formation of highly-strained transition state in intramolecular and intermolecular proton transfer. In this study, the catalytic roles of formic acid were computationally investigated in the formation of biomolecules.