Summary
Two new classes of organic microspheres are described. One of them (melanoidin) is synthesized from amino acids and sugars in heated aqueous solutions. The other (aldocyanoin) is formed in aqueous solutions of ammonium cyanide and formaldehyde at room temperature.
The general properties of these microspheres, including conditions of synthesis, size and shape, mechanical and pH stability, and solubility, are compared with corresponding properties of other −protocell− model systems. It is concluded that melanoidin and aldocyanoin microspheres are plausible candidates for precellular units in the primitive hydrosphere.
Since the bulk of the organic carbon in early Precambrian sediments is insoluble kerogen-melanoidin, it is suggested that some Precambrian −microfossils− may be abiotic melanoidin microspheres of the type described herein.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bahadur, K. (1966). Synthesis of jeewanu, the protocell. Allahabad, India: Ramnarainlal Beni Prasad
Breger, I.A., et al. (1972). Nature 236, 155
Ellis, G.P. (1959). In: Advances in carbohydrate chemistry, M.L. Wolfram, ed., Vol. 14, p. 63. New York: Academic Press
Ferris, J.P., Donner, D.B., Lobo, A.P. (1973). J.Mol.Biol. 74, 499
Ferris, J.P., Wos, J.D., Ryan, T.J., Lobo, A.P. (1974). Origins of Life 5, 153
Folsome, C.E., Allen, R.D., Ichinose, N. (1975). Precambrian Res. 2, 263
Fox, S.W. (1972). Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 194, 71
Fox, S.W., Dose, K. (1972). Molecular evolution and the origin of life. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Co
Herrera, A.L. (1940). Bull.Lab.Plasmogenie, Mex. 2, 3
Hoering, T.C. (1973). A comparison of melanoidin and humic acid, p. 682, Year Book 1972, Carnegie Institute
Labadie, M., Cohere, G., Brechenmacher, C. (1967). Compt.Rend.Soc.Biol. 161, 1689
Lowe, C.U., Rees, M.W., Markham, R. (1963). Nature 199, 219
Marsden, B.G. (1974). Ann.Rev.Astron.Astrophys. 12, 1
Miller, S.L., Orgel, L.E. (1974). The origins of life on earth. New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Nagy, B., Zumberge, J.E., Nagy, L.A. (1975). Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA 72, 1206
Nissenbaum, A., Kenyon, D.H., Oró, J. (1976). J.Mol.Evol. (in press)
Oparin, A.I. (1965). In: The origins of prebiological systems. S.W. Fox, ed., p. 331. New York: Academic Press
Oró, J. (1963). Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 108, 464
Oró, J., Kimball, A.P. (1961). Arch.Biochem.Biophys. 94, 293
Sanchez, R.A., Ferris, J.P., Orgel, L.E. (1967). J.Mol.Biol. 30, 223
Schopf, J.W. (1975). Ann.Rev.Earth Planetary Sci. 3, 213
Smith, A.E., Silver, J.J., Steinman, G. (1968). Experientia 24, 36
Smith, A.E., Steinman, G., Galand, C. (1969). Experientia 25, 255
Snyder, L.E., Buhl, D. (1973). Sky and Telescope 45, 156
Steinman, G., Kenyon, D.H., Calvin, M. (1965). Nature 206, 707
Steinman, G., Kenyon, D.H., Calvin, M. (1966). Biochim.Biophys.Acta 124, 339
Tarling, D.H. (1975). Nature 255, 12
Ulich, B.L., Conklin, E.K. (1974). Nature 248, 121
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kenyon, D.H., Nissenbaum, A. Melanoidin and aldocyanoin microspheres: Implications for chemical evolution and early precambrian micropaleontology. J Mol Evol 7, 245–251 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731491
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731491