Phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry
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The prebiotic synthesis of phosphorus-containing compounds—such as nucleotides and polynucleotides—would require both a geologically plausible source of the element and pathways for its incorporation into chemical systems on the primitive Earth. The mineral apatite, which is the only significant source of phosphate on Earth, has long been thought to be problematical in this respect due to its low solubility and reactivity. However, in the last decade or so, at least two pathways have been demonstrated which would circumvent these perceived problems. In addition, recent results would seem to suggest an additional, extraterrestrial source of reactive phosphorus. It appears that the ‘phosphorus problem’ is no longer the stumbling block which it was once thought to be.
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With six reactive species, formaldehyde, HCN, formamide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and water, plus an inorganic phosphate source, it should be possible to build most of the structural complexity of the main biological molecular components.
“With these six reactive species in hand, and some inorganic phosphate source,42,43 it should be possible to build most of the structural complexity comprising the main biological molecular components.”
From The protometabolic nature of prebiotic chemistry (2023) · cites this paper as [42]
Phosphite is much more soluble than phosphate.
“First, phosphite is much more soluble than phosphate.”
From Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life (2023) · cites this paper as Schwartz, 2006
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References 34 · Cited by 207
- Authors
- Schwartz, A. W.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Schwartz, Alan W
- Venue
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2006-09-07
- Volume
- 361
- Issue
- 1474
- Pages
- 1743-1749
- ISSN
- 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2970
- PMC
- PMC1664685
- OpenAlex
- W2128329973
- Cited by
- 207
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution
- Keywords
- phosphorus, prebiotic chemistry, apatite, phosphate solubility, nucleotide synthesis, polynucleotide synthesis, early Earth, origin of life
- MeSH terms
- Origin of Life, Lightning, Phosphorylation, Molecular Structure, Phosphorus Compounds, Volcanic Eruptions, Evolution, Chemical
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