Tectonically-driven oxidant production in the hot biosphere.

ABSTRACT: Genomic reconstructions of the common ancestor to all life have identified genes involved in H₂O₂ and O₂ cycling. Commonly dismissed as an artefact of lateral gene transfer after oxygenic photosynthesis evolved, an alternative is a geological source of H₂O₂ and O₂ on the early Earth. Here, we show that under oxygen-free conditions high concentrations of H₂O₂ can be released from defects on crushed silicate rocks when water is added and heated to temperatures close to boiling point, but little is released at temperatures <80 °C. This temperature window overlaps the growth ranges of evolutionary ancient heat-loving and oxygen-respiring Bacteria and Archaea near the root of the Universal Tree of Life. We p

SUBMITTER: Stone J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9360021 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature