Site-specific prebiotic oligomerization reactions of glycine on the surface of hectorite.

Condensation reactions of the amino acid glycine on the surface of Cu(II)-exchanged hectorite are investigated using the technique of scanning force microscopy. Prebiotic conditions are simulated using alternate wetting and heating cycles. Concentration, immobilization, and subsequent polymerization resulting in glycine oligomers are seen to occur primarily at step edges or faults in the topmost layer. Condensation reactions also occur within tiny micropores or defects in the topmost layer. These reactions are facilitated by the availability of intergallery metal cations at the step edges or pores in the surface region.