Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules
Abstract Formaldehyde (H2CO) is a critical precursor for the abiotic formation of biomolecules, including amino acids and sugars, which are the building blocks of proteins and RNA. Geomorphological and geochemical evidence on Mars indicates a temperate environment compatible with the existence of su...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52718-9 |
| _version_ | 1797274974971494400 |
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| author | Shungo Koyama Arihiro Kamada Yoshihiro Furukawa Naoki Terada Yuki Nakamura Tatsuya Yoshida Takeshi Kuroda Ann Carine Vandaele |
| author_facet | Shungo Koyama Arihiro Kamada Yoshihiro Furukawa Naoki Terada Yuki Nakamura Tatsuya Yoshida Takeshi Kuroda Ann Carine Vandaele |
| author_sort | Shungo Koyama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Formaldehyde (H2CO) is a critical precursor for the abiotic formation of biomolecules, including amino acids and sugars, which are the building blocks of proteins and RNA. Geomorphological and geochemical evidence on Mars indicates a temperate environment compatible with the existence of surface liquid water during its early history at 3.8–3.6 billion years ago (Ga), which was maintained by the warming effect of reducing gases, such as H2. However, it remains uncertain whether such a temperate and weakly reducing surface environment on early Mars was suitable for producing H2CO. In this study, we investigated the atmospheric production of H2CO on early Mars using a 1-D photochemical model assuming a thick CO2-dominated atmosphere with H2 and CO. Our results show that a continuous supply of atmospheric H2CO can be used to form various organic compounds, including amino acids and sugars. This could be a possible origin for the organic matter observed on the Martian surface. Given the previously reported conversion rate from H2CO into ribose, the calculated H2CO deposition flux suggests a continuous supply of bio-important sugars on early Mars, particularly during the Noachian and early Hesperian periods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:06:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9a131e2195e46b9994a561d785e5dd7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:06:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9a131e2195e46b9994a561d785e5dd72024-03-05T18:53:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-52718-9Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important moleculesShungo Koyama0Arihiro Kamada1Yoshihiro Furukawa2Naoki Terada3Yuki Nakamura4Tatsuya Yoshida5Takeshi Kuroda6Ann Carine Vandaele7Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, The University of TokyoGraduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, BIRA-IASBAbstract Formaldehyde (H2CO) is a critical precursor for the abiotic formation of biomolecules, including amino acids and sugars, which are the building blocks of proteins and RNA. Geomorphological and geochemical evidence on Mars indicates a temperate environment compatible with the existence of surface liquid water during its early history at 3.8–3.6 billion years ago (Ga), which was maintained by the warming effect of reducing gases, such as H2. However, it remains uncertain whether such a temperate and weakly reducing surface environment on early Mars was suitable for producing H2CO. In this study, we investigated the atmospheric production of H2CO on early Mars using a 1-D photochemical model assuming a thick CO2-dominated atmosphere with H2 and CO. Our results show that a continuous supply of atmospheric H2CO can be used to form various organic compounds, including amino acids and sugars. This could be a possible origin for the organic matter observed on the Martian surface. Given the previously reported conversion rate from H2CO into ribose, the calculated H2CO deposition flux suggests a continuous supply of bio-important sugars on early Mars, particularly during the Noachian and early Hesperian periods.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52718-9 |
| spellingShingle | Shungo Koyama Arihiro Kamada Yoshihiro Furukawa Naoki Terada Yuki Nakamura Tatsuya Yoshida Takeshi Kuroda Ann Carine Vandaele Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules Scientific Reports |
| title | Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules |
| title_full | Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules |
| title_fullStr | Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules |
| title_short | Atmospheric formaldehyde production on early Mars leading to a potential formation of bio-important molecules |
| title_sort | atmospheric formaldehyde production on early mars leading to a potential formation of bio important molecules |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52718-9 |
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