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Prebiotic Carbohydrates and Their Derivates

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Biosphere Origin and Evolution

Abstract

The most significant experimental results on the putative synthesis of various carbohydrates and their derivates from simple substrates in plausible prebiotic conditions are summarized and discussed. The synthesis of monosaccharides from formaldehyde and lower carbohydrates (glycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone) can be catalyzed by different compounds such as lead, phosphate and borate ions and several natural minerals. Lower carbohydrates can be directly formed in aqueous formaldehyde solutions under the action ofUV-irradiation. The possible role of carbohydrates and their derivates in the chemical evolution and development of presumable abiogenic metabolism is illustrated as well.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nontraditional Catalytic Processes, Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Novosibirsk, Russia

    O.P. Pestunova

Authors
  1. O.P. Pestunova
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  2. A.N. Simonov
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  3. V.N. Snytnikov
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  4. V.N. Parmon
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, 3 Pr.Koptyuga Novosibirsk, 630090 Novosibrisk, Russia

    Nikolay Dobretsov

  2. Institute of Cytology and Genetics, 17 Lavrenteva Prospekt Novosibirsk, 630090,Novosibirsk, Russia

    Nikolay Kolchanov

  3. Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123 Profsoyuznaya, Moskva 117647, Moscow, Russia

    Alexey Rozanov

  4. Inst. Microbiology Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 7/2 Prospekt 60 Let, Oktyabrya Moskva 117312, Moscow, Russia

    Georgy Zavarzin

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Pestunova, O., Simonov, A., Snytnikov, V., Parmon, V. (2008). Prebiotic Carbohydrates and Their Derivates. In: Dobretsov, N., Kolchanov, N., Rozanov, A., Zavarzin, G. (eds) Biosphere Origin and Evolution. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68656-1_7

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