Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Journal of Chemistry Australian Journal of Chemistry Society
An international journal for chemical science
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > CH > CH10427
RESEARCH FRONT
Contents Vol 64(1)

Chemical Evidence for the Dawn of Life on Earth

Eva-Maria Krammer A , Sophie Bernad B , G. Matthias Ullmann A , Arthur Hickman C and Pierre Sebban B D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Structural Biology/Bioinformatics, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, BGI, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany.

B Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, Université Paris-Sud 11/CNRS, 91405 cedex, Orsay, France.

C Geological Survey of Western Australia, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia.

D Université des Sciences et des Technologies de Hanoi, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.

E Corresponding author. Email: pierre.sebban@usth.edu.vn

Australian Journal of Chemistry 64(1) 16-22 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH10427
Submitted: 25 November 2010  Accepted: 15 December 2010   Published: 14 January 2011

Abstract

The dating of the dawn of life on Earth is a difficult task, requiring an accumulation of evidences from many different research fields. Here we shall summarize findings from the molecular scale (proteins) to cells and photosynthesis-related-fossils (stromatolites from the early and the late Archaean Eon), which indicate that life emerged on Earth 4.2–3.8 Ga (i.e. 4.2–3.8 × 109 years) ago. Among the data supporting this age, the isotopic and palaeontological fingerprints of photosynthesis provide some of the strongest evidence. The reason for this is that photosynthesis, carried out in particular by cyanobacteria, was responsible for massive changes to the Earth’s environment, i.e. the oxygenation of the Earth’s atmosphere and seawater, and the fixation of carbon from atmospheric CO2 in organic material. The possibility of a very early (>3.8 Ga ago) appearance of complex autotrophic organisms, such as cyanobacteria, is a major change in our view of life’s origins.


References

[1]  C. A. Patterson, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 1956, 10, 230.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaG2sXhs1Kiug%3D%3D&md5=6c5848165f777eb2386f188f8f7e1923CAS |

[2]  Oparin A. I. , The Origin of Life 1924 (Moscow Worker Publisher: Moscow).

[3]  S. J. Mojzsis, T. M. Harrison, R. T. Pidgeon, Nature 2001, 409, 178.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlvV2htA%3D%3D&md5=24006b400412b666aa31996a5d4cbe89CAS | 11196638PubMed |

[4]  J. W. Valley, A. J. Cavosie, B. Fu, W. H. Peck, S. A. Wilde, Science 2006, 312, 1139.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XkvVOhsL8%3D&md5=b28c1292d6ca573bbdabdfbc09d42e21CAS | 16728619PubMed |

[5]  Rumble D. , in Chemical Evolution across Space & Time 2008, ACS Symp. Ser. Vol. 981, Ch. 14, pp. 261–281 (Eds L. Zaikowski, J. M. Friedrich) (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC).

[6]  G. F. Joyce, Nature 2002, 418, 214.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XltFGmu7o%3D&md5=1dfc97505059ea7b16c98345da80547eCAS | 12110897PubMed |

[7]  A. Korostelev, H. F. Noller, Trends Biochem. Sci. 2007, 32, 434.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtVWhsr%2FJ&md5=13aa51662a398f7233c4681c9b2629a1CAS | 17764954PubMed |

[8]  H. F. Noller, Nature 1991, 353, 302.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK38%2FhvVWrsA%3D%3D&md5=236f382d1582998fbbbe125e9fbb74faCAS | 1922333PubMed |

[9]  A. D. Ellington, M. P. Robertson, J. Bull, Science 1997, 276, 546.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXivVCks7o%3D&md5=f03e6c1c70e3754c96b30ccd43cf6da7CAS | 9148415PubMed |

[10]  D. L. Robertson, G. F. Joyce, Nature 1990, 344, 467.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXitlWltLk%3D&md5=e5c6f86d32649de5409c71480b3d00b4CAS | 1690861PubMed |

[11]  M. P. Robertson, S. L. Miller, Science 1995, 268, 702.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlsVGisbY%3D&md5=f0292b652b7f62e0e8535e4fdeaef1e9CAS | 7732378PubMed |

[12]  M. P. Robertson, W. G. Scott, Science 2007, 315, 1549.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXivVSntrw%3D&md5=bb719bcc5b2c76b722086140c53c9eceCAS | 17363667PubMed |

[13]  G. J. Connell, M. Yarus, Science 1994, 264, 1137.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXlt1ynurk%3D&md5=2278c400e3c6b79ed5630609334252e3CAS | 7513905PubMed |

[14]  M. Illangasekare, G. Sanchez, T. Nickles, M. Yarus, Science 1995, 267, 643.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXjsFGlt78%3D&md5=a142d56a1eb129cfb5150f0255428e6dCAS | 7530860PubMed |

[15]  M. Yarus, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 1999, 3, 260.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjvVSgu7s%3D&md5=325c5391d8d43769711d8a52510ba88aCAS | 10359720PubMed |

[16]  M. Yarus, Nature 2005, 438, 40.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtFOjur%2FM&md5=4ce0c37d2789e2223e2b3e9d056ac56bCAS | 16267543PubMed |

[17]  C. de Duve, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1987, 84, 8253.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXhsVGrs78%3D&md5=efb890697b9eec17dc69599d2298e8eaCAS |

[18]  de Duve C. , Singularités: Jalons sur les chemins de la vie 2005 (Odile Jacob: Paris).

[19]  T. R. Cech, Science 2000, 289, 878.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXlvFSntLg%3D&md5=563fce7c0fe54e4eb6bbba1f3cba2686CAS | 10960319PubMed |

[20]  T. R. Cech, Gene 1993, 135, 33.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhtVSjsro%3D&md5=ec37dda705e2c4071e442c90ab0afd0fCAS | 8276275PubMed |

[21]  C. Brochier-Armanet, S. Gribaldo, P. Forterre, Biol. Direct 2008, 3, 54.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19105819PubMed |

[22]  Forterre P. , Microbes de l’enfer 2007 (Belin-Pour la Science: Paris).

[23]  P. Forterre, D. Gadelle, Nucleic Acids Res. 2009, 37, 679.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXisFekurw%3D&md5=3d88a53700bcc42ef5eca7bd968624ecCAS | 19208647PubMed |

[24]  S. Gribaldo, A. M. Poole, V. Daubin, P. Forterre, C. Brochier-Armanet, Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2010, 8, 743.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtFGqtbfL&md5=1efd759c7294ba98d2720157b66f2f7cCAS | 20844558PubMed |

[25]  J. Keller, N. Leulliot, N. Soler, B. Collinet, R. Vincentelli, P. Foterre, H. Van Tilbeurgh, Protein Sci. 2009, 18, 850.
         | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXms1agsrs%3D&md5=ac4b91684384aac7dd513ea53529412eCAS | 19319959PubMed |

[26]  P. Mitchell, J. Moyle, Nature 1965, 208, 147.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF28Xht1CntQ%3D%3D&md5=cf8f83474a8ed116da4a95b36bce5a6cCAS | 4222981PubMed |

[27]  S. Iwata, M. Saynovits, T. A. Link, H. Michel, Structure 1996, 4, 567.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28XjsVKlsLc%3D&md5=b71b6ced16a1d18412f5218f7e4fedf9CAS | 8736555PubMed |

[28]  E. A. Berry, L.-S. Huang, L. K. Saechao, N. G. Pon, M. Valkova-Valchanova, F. Daldal, Photosynth. Res. 2004, 81, 251.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXmt1Kqsro%3D&md5=4117c1e1c1b65fea3050e84062fd28adCAS | 16034531PubMed |

[29]  E.-M. Krammer, P. Sebban, G. M. Ullmann, Biochemistry 2009, 48, 1230.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXpt1ejsA%3D%3D&md5=0d84d72f650fb2ffdf695e2b18828076CAS | 19159220PubMed |

[30]  B. Rost, Protein Eng. 1999, 12, 85.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXhvFehs70%3D&md5=863dee9b12b0ada1434a602239c8624aCAS | 10195279PubMed |

[31]  J. M. Sauder, J. W. Arthur, R. L. Dunbrack, Proteins 2000, 40, 6.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjvFyjur0%3D&md5=a3fa18226a4253fc467e3ab21cc1349fCAS | 10813826PubMed |

[32]  S. R. Eddy, Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 1996, 6, 361.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28XjvFSgsLo%3D&md5=afbc0428a39cc7ddb71bb37f736c95cbCAS | 8804822PubMed |

[33]  S. R. Eddy, Bioinformatics 1998, 14, 755.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXktlCmtQ%3D%3D&md5=bda347e82eb09b4b3ddad8a3a5e3cbf6CAS | 9918945PubMed |

[34]  E.-M. Krammer, M. S. Till, P. Sebban, G. M. Ullmann, J. Mol. Biol. 2009, 388, 631.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXltVCrsb8%3D&md5=55f3004a0c0cbe2cfa2f632e3f6e22dbCAS | 19285988PubMed |

[35]  J. Koepke, E.-M. Krammer, A. R. Klingen, P. Sebban, G. M. Ullmann, G. Fritsch, J. Mol. Biol. 2007, 371, 396.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXnslWkt70%3D&md5=e089560c1a4681d57efa34a57a128ae8CAS | 17570397PubMed |

[36]  B. Loll, J. Kern, W. Saenger, A. Zouni, J. Biesiadka, Nature 2005, 438, 1040.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtlSksrvK&md5=c16fa659847daa8d7512b260bbe9ca49CAS | 16355230PubMed |

[37]  J. P. Allen, J. C. Williams, FEBS Lett. 1998, 438, 5.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXns1Clsb8%3D&md5=5b94d426f37f7e216600b57fce0b8dbcCAS | 9821949PubMed |

[38]  A. W. Rutherford, P. Faller, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 2003, 358, 245.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXktVWhs70%3D&md5=919241dff25d12f4cc8fa53f57d3e621CAS | 12594932PubMed |

[39]  R. E. Blankenship, Trends Plant Sci. 2001, 6, 4.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlsFyksb8%3D&md5=b64123d173a8d26a63b54ddfa45a6e7bCAS | 11164357PubMed |

[40]  R. E. Blankenship, Plant Physiol. 2010, 154, 434.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtlCkt7%2FJ&md5=a8ee67a34b1b492f7686695e1ceaa5eeCAS | 20921158PubMed |

[41]  R. E. Blankenship, H. Hartman, Trends Biochem. Sci. 1998, 23, 94.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXisVOms74%3D&md5=feb93ad75333ebe94bceb303a5b20f60CAS | 9581499PubMed |

[42]  J. Raymond, Trends Microbiol. 2008, 16, 41.
         | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhslOlsL8%3D&md5=e5afa0a435446b597a1f951f6988d635CAS | 18182293PubMed |

[43]  J. Raymond, R. E. Blankenship, Chem. Rev. 2008, 252, 377.
         | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXosFChsA%3D%3D&md5=e4b58331d3b0856adfc0371e750525b7CAS |

[44]  J. Raymond, O. Zhaxybayeva, J. P. Gogarten, R. E. Blankenship, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 2003, 358, 223.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12594930PubMed |

[45]  B. Rasmussen, I. R. Fletcher, J. J. Brocks, M. R. Kilburn, Nature 2008, 455, 1101.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXht1yju7vL&md5=9bfb0cb4989c13d56422b9c60bcd3961CAS | 18948954PubMed |

[46]  M. Hoashi, D. C. Bevacqua, T. Otake, Y. Watanabe, A. H. Hickman, S. Utsunomiya, H. Ohmoto, Nat. Geosci. 2009, 2, 301.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXjvFOjsLo%3D&md5=c787de23a01d6a754b1bd3f939891b41CAS |

[47]  W. J. Schopf, Science 1993, 260, 640.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MnlvVequg%3D%3D&md5=4869e87a58b6444c889c7869a545408cCAS | 11539831PubMed |

[48]  Knoll A. H. , Life on a Young Planet 2003 (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ).

[49]  D. R. Lowe, Nature 1980, 284, 441.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[50]  K. Lepot, K. Benzerara, G. E. Brown, P. Philippot, Nat. Geosci. 2008, 1, 118.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXjsVGjsL0%3D&md5=068fd5b9a5e468c6bfb6d34e14f201f1CAS |

[51]  H. J. Hofmann, K. Grey, A. H. Hickman, R. I. Thorpe, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 1999, 111, 1256.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[52]  A. C. Allwood, M. R. Walter, B. S. Kamber, C. P. Marshall, I. W. Burch, Nature 2006, 441, 714.
         | Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XltlKqurs%3D&md5=ef285880b04f30ddd8dd64db7d37f4b6CAS | 16760969PubMed |

[53]  R. P. Reid, N. P. James, I. G. Macintyre, C. P. Dupraz, R. V. Burne, Facies 2003, 49, 299.

[54]  Schopf W. J. , Photosynth. Res. 2010, in press.

[55]  Farquhar J. , Zerkle A. L. , Bekker A. , Photosynth. Res. 2010, in press.