Geochemical and Thermodynamic Constraints on the Chemical Interaction of Biomolecules and Minerals in Hydrothermal Systems

Helgesongland-0309829本研究项目涉及矿物和来自超嗜热微生物的水性酶、核苷酸、核酸和其他生物大分子在热液体系中的相对稳定性和化学相互作用。总体假设是，经典的高温溶液化学和可逆和不可逆的化学热力学可以用来表征和量化矿物和生物大分子之间的反应在热液系统中的有机-无机界面。所采用的方法包括热力学计算和计算机实验，将进行定量表征的生物化学-矿物学界面的热液系统。拟议活动的智力价值是固有的目标，以提高我们的化学和热力学因素的理解，负责稳定存在的矿物生物大分子，因此在热液系统中的生命。因为它是高度跨学科的性质，该项目将推进知识和理解，不仅在地球化学领域，而且在生物物理化学，生物技术和相关学科的领域。要探索的创造性和原创概念包括应用热力学首次量化生物大分子在高温下的相对稳定性，以及与维持热液系统中微生物生命的矿物质发生可逆和不可逆生物分子反应的后果。拟议研究的更广泛影响包括通过推进发现和理解高温下生命的化学和热力学支持系统来整合研究和教育，同时促进学生对生命可能起源于地球的环境的教学，培训和学习。此外，该项目将通过在网上公布该项目所考虑的物质和反应的所有热力学性质和状态方程参数，整合和加强科学和技术界的研究和教育基础设施。拟议研究对社会的潜在好处包括将研究结果应用于生物技术，以开发更有效的酶药物设计方案。

HelgesonEAR-0309829This research project is concerned with the relative stabilities and chemical interaction in hydrothermal systems of minerals and aqueous enzymes, nucleotides, nucleic acids and other biomacromolecules derived from hyperthermophilic microbes. The overall hypothesis is that classical high-temperature solution chemistry and reversible and irreversible chemical thermodynamics can be used to characterize and quantify reactions among minerals and biomacromolecules at the organic-inorganic interface in hydrothermal systems. The methods to be employed consist of thermodynamic calculations and computer experiments which will be carried out to characterize quantitatively the biochemical-mineralogic interface in hydrothermal systems. The intellectual merit of the proposed activity is inherent in the goal to improve our understanding of the chemical and thermodynamic factors responsible for stabilizing in the presence of minerals biomacromolecules and therefore life in hydrothermal systems. Because it is highly interdisciplinary in nature, the project will advance knowledge and understanding not only within the field of geochemistry, but also across the fields of biophysical chemistry, biotechnology, and related disciplines. The creative and original concepts to be explored include application of thermodynamics to quantify for the first time the relative stabilities of biomacromolecules at high temperatures and the consequences of reversible and irreversible biomolecular reactions with minerals that sustain microbial life in hydrothermal systems. The broader impacts of the proposed research include integrating research and education by advancing discovery and understanding of the chemical and thermodynamic support system for life at high temperatures while promoting teaching, training, and learning by students about the environment in which life may have originated on the Earth. In addition, the project will integrate and enhance the infrastructure for research and education in the scientific and technological communities by posting on the Web all of the thermodynamic properties and equations of state parameters generated for the species and reactions considered in the project. The potential benefits of the proposed research to society include application in biotechnology of the results of the research to develop more efficient protocols for enzymatic drug design.