Selective formation of certain amino acids from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in a modified sea medium enriched with...

Amino acids produced from formaldehyde and hydroxylamine in modified sea mediums with different concentrations of molybdate were analyzed. The modified sea mediums contained lower concentration of sodium chloride and higher concentrations of transition metal ions (Zn2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Co2+, Mn2+ each 10(-4)m, and Mo O4(2-)10(-6), 10(-4), or 10(-2)m) than sea water. The concentration of molybdate had apparently no remarkable effect on the total yields of primary amino groups, but a remarkable effect on the nature of amino acids produced. The formation of alanine, aspartic acid, beta-alanine and, in particular, proline was increased, and that of glycine and serine was decreased with the enrichment of molybdate. The results suggest the possibility of a natural selection of prebiotic organic molecules based on the nature of environmental catalysers in the course of chemical evolution.