# A Global Scale Scenario for Prebiotic Chemistry: Silica-Based Self-Assembled Mineral Structures and Formamide.
> 生命起源の前生物的化学：ケイ酸塩自己組織化鉱物膜とホルムアミドによる有機分子合成


## Abstract

Serpentinization, the aqueous dissolution of olivine, generates molecular hydrogen alongside high-pH alkaline brines enriched in silica. Under such conditions, metal silicate hydrate (MSH) tubular membranes form spontaneously through osmotic processes. This study demonstrates that these MSH membranes catalyze the condensation of formamide (NH2CHO), producing prebiotically relevant molecules including carboxylic acids, amino acids, and nucleobases. Membranes synthesized from alkaline sodium silicate (pH 12) reacted with MgSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3·9H2O exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency, while CuCl2, ZnCl2, FeCl2, and MnCl2 systems showed lower reactivity. Notably, the chemical composition of products differed between the interior and exterior of the tubular membranes, indicating simultaneous spatial compartmentalization and selective catalysis. These findings suggest that prebiotic organic chemistry leading to life's molecular building blocks may be a widespread, universal phenomenon rather than dependent on rare local geological conditions.

### Mechanism

MSH tubular membranes self-assemble under high-pH, silica-rich serpentinization conditions and catalyze formamide condensation, yielding amino acids, nucleobases, and carboxylic acids through selective compartmentalized reactions.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Saladino R, Botta G, Bizzarri BM, Di Mauro E, Garcia Ruiz JM
- **Journal**: Biochemistry
- **Year**: 2016 (2016-05-17)
- **PMID**: [27115539](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27115539/)
- **DOI**: [10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00255](https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00255)
- **PMC**: [PMC4872262](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4872262/)
- **Study type**: other
- **Delivery route**: in vitro
- **Effect reported**: not assessed

## Delivery context

This is basic research at the cellular or molecular level. For human application, inhalation is the most promising delivery route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration devices are not recommended).

## Safety notes

This is basic research at the cellular or molecular level. For human application, inhalation is the most promising delivery route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration devices are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 27115539. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/27115539
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [27115539](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27115539/)