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Explore the nature and distribution of life at high pressures, the extreme pressure limits to cellular life, adaptations of biomolecules to high pressure, and the role of pressure in prebiotic organic synthesis. Discover the high-pressure life in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and crustal rocks, as well as the potential for life in deep, wet environments on Mars and Europa. Gain insights into the isolation and culture of high-pressure microbes, the effects of pressure on biomolecules and water, and the hydrothermal organic synthesis under high-pressure conditions.
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High Pressure and the Origin of Life Joint AIRAPT-18 & HPCC-11 Beijing, China -- 23-27 July 2001 Robert Hazen, Nabil Boctor, Jay A. Brandes, George D. Cody, Russell J. Hemley, James Scott, Anurag Sharma, and Hatten S. Yoder, Jr. Carnegie Institution of Washington
High-Pressure and the Origin of Life • What is the nature and distribution of life at high pressures? • What are the extreme pressure limits to cellular life? • How might biomolecules adapt to high pressure? • What roles might pressure have played in prebiotic organic synthesis?
High-Pressure Life HMS Challenger – 1870s
High-Pressure Life 1972
High-Pressure Life Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents -- 1979
High-Pressure Life Discoveries of Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystems
High-Pressure Life • Discoveries of Life in Crustal Rocks – 1990s
High-Pressure Life • Discoveries of life in extreme environments – 1990s
High-Pressure Life Methane ice worms -- 1999
Life at High Pressures on other Worlds? Deep, wet environments may exist on Mars, Europa, etc.
Pressure Limits of Life Isolation and Culture of High-Pressure Microbes – 1980s
Pressure Limits of Life Isolation and Culture of High-Pressure Microbes – 1990s
Pressure Limits of Life Isolation and Culture of Microbes at 1 GPa – 2001
Pressure Limits of Life Microbes continue to reduce formate at pressures above 10,000 atmospheres
Effects of Pressure on Biomolecules Pressure induces phase transitions in membrane-forming lipid molecules.
Effects of Pressure on Biomolecules High-pressure cell membranes employ Modified lipids with unsaturated bonds.
Effects of Pressure on Water Pressure dramatically alters the thermal stability and physical properties of water.
Hydrothermal Organic SynthesisThree techniques Gold tube reactors
Hydrothermal Organic SynthesisThree techniques • Hydrothermal Diamond • Anvil Cell
Hydrothermal Organic SynthesisThree techniques Flow-through Reactor
Hydrothermal F-T Synthesis • Reactants: CO2 + H2 + H2O • Catalyst: Iron metal • Conditions: 300oC 500 atm 24 hours
Pyruvic Acid • Reactants: Pyruvic acid + CO2 + H2O • Conditions: 200oC 2,000 atm 2 hours • Products: A diverse suite of organic molecules
The Formation of C-C Bonds Under High-P Hydrothermal Conditions
The Formation of C-C Bonds Under High-P Hydrothermal Conditions
The Formation of C-C Bonds Under High-P Hydrothermal Conditions
Thomas Gold’s Hypothesis:Organic Synthesis in the Mantle Thomas Gold (1999) NY:Springer-Verlag.
Conclusions • Deep life is abundant and richly varied. • Cellular life can exist at pressures exceeding 1 GPa. • We have much to learn about the pressure adaptations of biomolecules. • High pressure facilitates and enhances many hydrothermal organic reactions, because pressure increases the temperature stability of the aqueous phase.
