Supply of phospholipid precursors and evolution sites on the early Earth by impact

Abstract

The abiotic supply of phospholipid precursors on the early Earth constitutes a critical stage in cellular evolution. Glycerophosphate (GP) and acylglycerol (AG) are potential precursors to the bonding of polar heads and lipidic chains attached to the glycerol backbone in phospholipids. A deeper understanding of the synthesis of GP and AG on early Earth is essential for unraveling the origin of life. In this study, we performed shock experiments to simulate the impact of extraterrestrial bodies on both wet and dry surfaces of early Earth to investigate the synthesis of GP and AG. These experiments were conducted in the temperature transition zone between negligible alteration and complete decomposition of organic materials. Despite GP and AG synthesis involving dehydration, our experiments revealed they can synthesize under both wet and dry conditions by impact shock. This suggests that the process occurs universally in both wet and dry environments and presents a feasible pathway for phosphorylation and acylation on the early Earth. Moreover, the crater created by the impact may evolve into “warm little ponds” that collect the synthesized GP and AG for further evolution. The dry-wet cycles in the ponds not only facilitate the assembly of vesicles but also provide opportunities for further evolution. Our findings indicate that impacts from extraterrestrial bodies may have contributed to cellular evolution by supplying phospholipid precursors on the early Earth.