Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere
Discussions are made concerning realistic mechanisms for the origin of L-amino acids in the biosphere. As the most plausible mechanism, it is proposed that a mixture of racemic amino acids in the prebiotic sea caused spontaneous and effective optical resolution through self crystallization, even if...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2010-05-01
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| Series: | Symmetry |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/2/1022/ |
| _version_ | 1811305303746019328 |
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| author | Shosuke Kojo |
| author_facet | Shosuke Kojo |
| author_sort | Shosuke Kojo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Discussions are made concerning realistic mechanisms for the origin of L-amino acids in the biosphere. As the most plausible mechanism, it is proposed that a mixture of racemic amino acids in the prebiotic sea caused spontaneous and effective optical resolution through self crystallization, even if asymmetric synthesis of a single amino acid has never occurred without the aid of an optically active molecule. This hypothesis is based on recrystallization of a mixture of D,L-amino acids in the presence of excess of D,L-asparagine (Asn). The enantiomeric excess (ee) of each amino acid in the resulting crystals indicates that crystallization of co-existing amino acids with the configuration same as that of Asn took place, although it was incidental whether the enrichment occurred in L- or D-amino acids. In addition, the resulting ee was sufficiently high (up to 100%) to account for the predominance of L-amino acids on the earth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:24:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fde9acc4e49041af81710a8515f0a5be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-8994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:24:08Z |
| publishDate | 2010-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Symmetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-fde9acc4e49041af81710a8515f0a5be2022-12-22T02:54:34ZengMDPI AGSymmetry2073-89942010-05-01221022103210.3390/sym2021022Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the BiosphereShosuke KojoDiscussions are made concerning realistic mechanisms for the origin of L-amino acids in the biosphere. As the most plausible mechanism, it is proposed that a mixture of racemic amino acids in the prebiotic sea caused spontaneous and effective optical resolution through self crystallization, even if asymmetric synthesis of a single amino acid has never occurred without the aid of an optically active molecule. This hypothesis is based on recrystallization of a mixture of D,L-amino acids in the presence of excess of D,L-asparagine (Asn). The enantiomeric excess (ee) of each amino acid in the resulting crystals indicates that crystallization of co-existing amino acids with the configuration same as that of Asn took place, although it was incidental whether the enrichment occurred in L- or D-amino acids. In addition, the resulting ee was sufficiently high (up to 100%) to account for the predominance of L-amino acids on the earth.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/2/1022/homochiralityL-amino acidcrystallizationchemical evolutionoptical resolutionasymmetric synthesisenantiomeric excess |
| spellingShingle | Shosuke Kojo Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere Symmetry homochirality L-amino acid crystallization chemical evolution optical resolution asymmetric synthesis enantiomeric excess |
| title | Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere |
| title_full | Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere |
| title_fullStr | Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere |
| title_full_unstemmed | Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere |
| title_short | Origin of Homochirality of Amino Acids in the Biosphere |
| title_sort | origin of homochirality of amino acids in the biosphere |
| topic | homochirality L-amino acid crystallization chemical evolution optical resolution asymmetric synthesis enantiomeric excess |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/2/2/1022/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shosukekojo originofhomochiralityofaminoacidsinthebiosphere |