What role do clay minerals and metal ions play in the prebiotic synthesis of cyclic dipeptides?

Label:chem

Topic
Clay minerals and metal ions are known to have played significant roles in the early Earth's environment, potentially influencing the chemical evolution of life. The study investigates the effects of clay minerals such as montmorillonite, calcite, and magnetite, as well as metal ions like Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+, on the synthesis of cyclic dipeptides from prolinamide.

From: "Local pH variability scenario: Prebiotic synthesis of cyclic dipeptides via prolinamide on the Hadean Earth", Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Volume 651, 1 October 2024, 112402
Answer
Clay minerals and metal ions significantly promote the formation of cyclic dipeptides from prolinamide. Specifically, calcite demonstrates a remarkable enhancing effect on the polymerization of cycloPro-Pro. The presence of these minerals and ions likely provided catalytic surfaces and favorable conditions for the polymerization reactions, suggesting that they played a crucial role in the prebiotic synthesis of biomolecules on early Earth.
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