The DOI matches its Crossref record; 35 of the 36 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Volcanic production of polyphosphates and its relevance to prebiotic evolution
Abstract
Phosphates would probably have been essential compounds for prebiotic evolution on the primitive Earth. In this context, there have been several studies of condensation of water-soluble phosphates to polyphosphates and phosphorylation and condensation or polymerization of biomolecules with polyphosphates. But most of the phosphorus on the early Earth would have been in the form of water-insoluble apatite, and the origin of the water-soluble polyphosphates required for prebiotic evolution has therefore been a mystery. Here we show, both from experiments that simulate magmatic conditions and from analysis of volatile condensates in volcanic gas, that volcanic activity can produce water-soluble polyphosphates through partial hydrolysis of P4O10. This mechanism seems to be the only viable route identified so far for the production of these species on the primitive Earth.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Phosphate is more soluble at pH 6 than at pH 8 and was not likely to have been globally abundant in the early oceans [11,30], although there was surely considerable local phosphate input from volcanos [66,67].”
From Early bioenergetic evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [66]
Citations
Cites
Microdetermination of Phosphorus
Chen, P. S., Toribara, T. Y., & Warner, H. R. (1956) · Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1021/ac60119a033 · Cited by 7,200
Organic Compound Synthesis on the Primitive Earth
Miller, S. L., & Urey, H. C. (1959) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.130.3370.245 · Cited by 1,403
Wazer, V., & John, R. (1958) · Interscience Publishers eBooks · Cited by 1,065
Generation of arc basalt magmas and thermal structure of the mantle wedge in subduction zones
Tatsumi, Y., Sakuyama, M., Fukuyama, H., & Kushiro, I. (1983) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth · doi:10.1029/jb088ib07p05815 · Cited by 529
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
Best, M. G. (1982) · Cited by 468
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
Hoover, J. D. (1983) · Eos · doi:10.1029/eo064i023p00404 · Cited by 272
Urea-Inorganic Phosphate Mixtures as Prebiotic Phosphorylating Agents
Lohrmann, R., & Orgel, L. E. (1971) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.171.3970.490 · Cited by 245
Prebiotic Synthesis: Phosphorylation in Aqueous Solution
Lohrmann, R., & Orgel, L. E. (1968) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.161.3836.64 · Cited by 191
Synthesis of Adenosine Triphosphate Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions
Ponnamperuma, C., Sagan, C., & Mariner, R. (1963) · Nature · doi:10.1038/199222a0 · Cited by 172
Prebiotic condensation reactions in an aqueous medium: A review of condensing agents
Hulshof, J., & Ponnamperuma, C. (1976) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf00926938 · Cited by 145
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Schwartz, A. & Fox, S. W. Biochim. biophys. Acta 87, 694–696 (1964).
- Yamanaka, J., Inomata, K. & Yamagata, Y. Origins of Life 18, 165–178 (1988).
- Schwartz, A. Chemical Evolution and the Origin of Life, Vol. I Molecular Evolution (eds Buvet, R. & Ponnamperuma, C.) 207–215 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1971).
- Sato, H. Sci. Rep. Kanazawa University 26, 51–72 (1981).
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–373 of 373
Polyphosphate Accumulation by Marine Bacteria
Dasan, E. V. (2002) · Dyuthi Digital Repository (Cochin University of Science and Technology) · Cited by 1
Hürlimann, H. C. (2009) · Repository for Publications and Research Data (ETH Zurich) · doi:10.3929/ethz-a-005969900 · Cited by 2
Exogenous phosphorus compounds in early chemical evolution
Schwartz, A. W. (1996) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf02459732 · Cited by 1
“…of phosphate minerals other than apatite with subsequent formation of condensed phosphate by metamorphism (Handschuh and Orgel, 1973; Gedulin and Arrhenius et al., 1993); and 3) formation of condensed phosphates as a result of volatilization of P4010 during igneous activity (Yamagata et al., 1991).”
BackgroundMajor anastrophic events for the origin of biological energy conversion
Baltscheffsky, H., & Baltscheffsky, M. (1996) · Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres · doi:10.1007/bf02459868 · Cited by 1
“A very early anastrophe leading to these events would have been the continuous production of PPi from cooling volcanic magma on the early earth (Yamagata et al., 1991).”
Background"Killer" Impacts and Life's Origins
Tiedemann, H. (1997) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.277.5332.1687 · Cited by 1
Duve, C. D. (1997) · International Astronomical Union Colloquium · doi:10.1017/s0252921100014901 · Cited by 1
The Geochemistry and Ecotoxicity of Offshore New Zealand Phosphorites
Frontin-Rollet, G. (2017) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.17072729 · Cited by 1
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.003 · Cited by 1
KULAEV, I. S., Vagabov, V. M., & Kulakovskaya, T. V. (2004) · doi:10.1002/0470858192.refs · Cited by 1
The Geochemistry and Ecotoxicity of Offshore New Zealand Phosphorites
Frontin-Rollet, G. (2017) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.17072729.v1 · Cited by 1
“Estimates of volcanic P flux into the oceans are difficult to directly measure, and thus have been derived from laboratory experiments using both artificial basalt/phosphate powder mixtures, and condensates from fumaroles (Yamagata et al., 1991).”
BackgroundStudies in Mineral‐Assisted Protometabolisms
Lambert, J., Ter‐Ovanessian, L. M. P., & Maurel, M. (2023) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781394264155.ch9 · Cited by 1
The Role of the C-terminus in Bacillus subtilis Inorganic Pyrophosphatase Activity
Konopka, M., & Young, T. (2000) · Biochemical Society Transactions · doi:10.1042/bst028a313c
“Accordingly, they are found in volcanic condensates as the result of volcanic activity through partial hydrolysis of P4O10 (Yamagata et al. 1991).”
BackgroundDuve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.015
Coarse-tuning in the origin of life?
Ourisson, G. (2007) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511536557.021
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.004
On Christian de Duve: An Editor's Appreciation
Patterson, N. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.002
PREBIOTIC DIPEPTIDE FORMATION BY CYCLO-TRIPHOSPHATE
Inoue, H., Baba, Y., & Tsuhako, M. (1994) · Phosphorus Research Bulletin · doi:10.3363/prb1992.4.0_111
The Miller-Urey Experiment and Prebiotic Chemistry
Shaw, G. H. (2015) · SpringerBriefs in earth sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21972-1_6
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.014
EMERGENCE OF LIFE AND ITS EARLY HISTORY
Russell, M. J. (2015) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/b19121-4
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.017
Worlds in Collision and the Origin of LifePreprint
Kühne, R. W. (2019) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/wzrd5
“Experiments that simulate magmatic conditions and analysis of volatile condensates in volcanic gas show that volcanic activity can produce water-soluble polyphosphates [52].”
BackgroundConsiderations in evolutionary biochemistry
van der Gulik, P. T. S. (2019) · Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands
Kawamura, K. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-30363-1_1
Mineral-Surface Chemistry of Hydroxyapatite and Urea-Rich Solutions
Garcia, E. (2020) · DigitalCommons - Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw State University)
Phosphate Scavenging During Lava‐Seawater Interaction Offshore of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii
Foreman, R. K., Björkman, K. M., Funkey, C. P., Hawco, N. J., Wilson, S. T., Rohrer, T., White, A., John, S. G., & Karl, D. M. (2021) · Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems · doi:10.1029/2021gc009754
“If some portion of the rock-derived P was in solution as pyrophosphate or polyphosphate (Yamagata et al., 1991), it would not have been detected with the colorimetric analysis, and led to an apparent excess of Fe.”
BackgroundPrebiotic synthesis of 3′-amino-TNA nucleotide triphosphatesPreprint
Whitaker, D. E., & Powner, M. W. (2021) · doi:10.33774/chemrxiv-2021-zs5qg
Earth Without Life 2: A Global Network Model of Abiotic Phosphorus Cycling on Earth Through TimePreprint
Jusino-Maldonado, M., Rianço-Silva, R., Mondal, J. A., Pasek, M. A., Laneuville, M., & Cleaves, H. J. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1259539/v1
韩大雄, 陈伟珠, 韩波, & 赵玉芬 (2007) · Science in China Series C-Life Sciences (in Chinese) · doi:10.1360/zc2007-37-4-382
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.023
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.001
Schlesinger, W. H., & Bernhardt, E. S. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-814608-8.00002-5
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.016
The Chemistry of Branched Condensed PhosphatesPreprint
Dürr‐Mayer, T., Qiu, D., Eisenbeis, V. B., Steck, N., Häner, M., Hofer, A., Mayer, A., Siegel, J., Baldridge, K. K., & Jessen, H. J. (2021) · ChemRxiv · doi:10.26434/chemrxiv.14267876
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.019
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.025
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.011
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.005
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.006
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.020
(2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-814608-8.09992-8
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.013
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.024
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.018
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.022
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.021
(2006) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/3-540-27666-1_5
(2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-404613-9.00027-7
Retracted(2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-385874-0.09983-0
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.007
Hagan, W. J. (2002) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/047120918x.emb1187
The Case for Prebiotic Chemistry During the Hadean EonPreprint
Kühne, R. W. (2019) · Preprints.org · doi:10.31219/osf.io/sedzu
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.012
Lehman, N. (2017) · Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature · doi:10.3410/f.732076161.793538595
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.010
First Steps of Prebiotic Chemistry Catalyzed by Minerals and Metals
Huber, L., & Trapp, O. (2022) · Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks · doi:10.1039/9781839164798-00077
Cyclic Nucleotide Monophosphate
Bizzarri, B. M. (2022) · Encyclopedia of Astrobiology · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_5450-1
On the Biochemistry and Biophysics of Living Cell Formation
Robertson, D. S. (2023) · Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics · doi:10.1007/s12013-023-01130-7
Cyclic Nucleotide Monophosphate
Bizzarri, B. M. (2023) · Encyclopedia of Astrobiology · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65093-6_5450
Shapiro, I. M., & Landis, W. J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-34304-9_1
Ter‐Ovanessian, L. M. P. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/127363f6z9511z4582z9a7azd31ee7d91f30
Phosphorylation of prebiotic precursors on the early Earth
Shvetsova, A. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f29e48aezf058z4ca4za37czb7fc87d89620
Painlevé Dynamics and the Origin of Life: A Universal Chemical Pathway
Planat, M. R. P. (2026) · Sci · doi:10.3390/sci8080213
The enzyme-free regioselective phosphorylation of ribonucleosides is promoted by metal ions
Mistri, M., & Jash, B. (2026) · Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry · doi:10.1039/d6ob00404k
Cai, J. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7038290
Phosphorus Chemistry and the Origin of Life: From N -Phosphoryl Amino Acid to Protocell
Ying, J., Liu, Y., Fu, S., Gao, X., & Zhao, Y. (2026) · Accounts of Chemical Research · doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.6c00206
Müller, U. F. (2026) · Compounds · doi:10.3390/compounds6030051
“One of the polyphosphates, cyclic trimetaphosphate (cTmp), is particularly attractive because it can form in volcanic environments [9,10] and by the erosion of prebiotically available phosphite minerals [11–13].”
The Role of Pyrophosphate in the Origin of Life: An Energy-Based Hypothesis
Villa‐Bellosta, R. (2026) · Biology · doi:10.3390/biology15181592
“Volcanic and geochemically reactive environments could have generated localized supplies of pyrophosphate and related condensed phosphate species [14,28,29], whereas drying cycles and mineral interfaces could have concentrated these compounds and increased their contact with organic…”
InfluentialU ncatalyzed Guanosine Phosphorylation under Potentially Prebiotic Conditions
Proietti, M., Bizzarri, B. M., Marchi, E. D., Giorgi, A., Saladino, R., & Costanzo, G. (2026) · Chemistry - A European Journal · doi:10.1002/chem.71691
Intimate Link Between Prebiotic Chemistry and Meteorites: Mechanisms of Organic Molecule Formation
Tunney, L. D., Harrison, P. H. M., & Slater, G. F. (2026) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1177/15311074261493342
“The second pathway, illustrated by Yamagata et al. (1991), showed the detection of condensed phosphates (polyphos-phates) when inorganic phosphates or salts of phosphonic acids were heated.”
Ribozymes That Benefit from Peptide Cofactors with Aromatic Modifications
Le, T., Patil, N., Leman, L. J., & Müller, U. F. (2026) · Life · doi:10.3390/life16111817
Duve, C. D. (2005) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511614736.008
Metadata
- Authors
- Yamagata, Y., Watanabe, H., Saitoh, M., & Namba, T.
- Affiliations
- Kanazawa University (JP)
- ORCID
- Yamagata, Y.
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 1991-08
- Volume
- 352
- Issue
- 6335
- Pages
- 516-519
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W1984123403
- Cited by
- 371
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 5.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Keywords
- polyphosphate, prebiotic evolution, volcanic activity, water-soluble phosphate, apatite, origin of life, early Earth, phosphate chemistry
- MeSH terms
- Calcium Phosphates, Hot Temperature, Minerals, Phosphorus, Polyphosphates, Silicates, Earth, Planet, Volcanic Eruptions, Evolution, Chemical, Evolution, Planetary
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
