An interstellar synthesis of phosphorus oxoacids.

ABSTRACT: Phosphorus signifies an essential element in molecular biology, yet given the limited solubility of phosphates on early Earth, alternative sources like meteoritic phosphides have been proposed to incorporate phosphorus into biomolecules under prebiotic terrestrial conditions. Here, we report on a previously overlooked source of prebiotic phosphorus from interstellar phosphine (PH₃) that produces key phosphorus oxoacids-phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), phosphonic acid (H₃PO₃), and pyrophosphoric acid (H₄P₂O₇)-in interstellar analog ices exposed to ionizing radiation at temperatures as low as 5?K. Since the processed material of molecular clouds eventually enters circumstellar disks and is partially incorporated into planetesimals like proto Earth, an understanding of the facile synthesis of oxoacids is essential to untangle the origin of water-soluble prebiotic phosphorus compounds and how they might have been incorporated into organisms not only on Earth, but potentially in our universe as well.

SUBMITTER: Turner AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6155066 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature