McCollom T M, Ritter G, Simoneit B R
Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group, College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331, USA.
Orig Life Evol Biosph. 1999 Mar;29(2):153-66. doi: 10.1023/a:1006592502746.
Ever since their discovery in the late 1970's, mid-ocean-ridge hydrothermal systems have received a great deal of attention as a possible site for the origin of life on Earth (and environments analogous to mid-ocean-ridge hydrothermal systems are postulated to have been sites where life could have originated or Mars and elsewhere as well). Because no modern-day terrestrial hydrothermal systems are free from the influence of organic compounds derived from biologic processes, laboratory experiments provide the best opportunity for confirmation of the potential for organic synthesis in hydrothermal systems. Here we report on the formation of lipid compounds during Fischer-Tropsch-type synthesis from aqueous solutions of formic acid or oxalic acid. Optimum synthesis occurs in stainless steel vessels by heating at 175 degrees C for 2-3 days and produces lipid compounds ranging from C2 to > C35 which consist of n-alkanols, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkenes, n-alkanes and alkanones. The precursor carbon sources used are either formic acid or oxalic acid, which disproportionate to H2, CO2 and probably CO. Both carbon sources yield the same lipid classes with essentially the same ranges of compounds. The synthesis reactions were confirmed by using 13C labeled precursor acids.
自20世纪70年代末被发现以来，大洋中脊热液系统作为地球上生命起源的一个可能地点受到了广泛关注（并且据推测，类似于大洋中脊热液系统的环境可能是生命起源的地点，火星及其他地方也一样）。由于没有现代陆地热液系统不受生物过程衍生的有机化合物的影响，实验室实验为证实热液系统中有机合成的可能性提供了最佳机会。在此，我们报告了在费托合成过程中，由甲酸或草酸水溶液形成脂质化合物的情况。最佳合成是在不锈钢容器中于175摄氏度加热2至3天进行的，生成的脂质化合物碳链长度从C2到大于C35，包括正构烷醇、正构烷酸、正构烯烃、正构烷烃和链烷酮。所用的前体碳源为甲酸或草酸，它们歧化为氢气、二氧化碳以及可能的一氧化碳。两种碳源产生的脂质类别相同，化合物范围基本相同。通过使用13C标记的前体酸证实了合成反应。
