Does symmetry breaking mirror the origins of life?
The direction of symmetry breaking depends on the amino acid used and its chirality, says Cuccia. For example, by adding D-serine, Cuccia made only right-handed crystals. When he used L-serine instead, he made only left-handed crystals. Some amino acids showed opposite symmetry breaking while some, like lysine, showed no symmetry directing effect at all.
'Stereospecific interactions of chiral molecules on chiral mineral surfaces have been proposed as a possible origin of terrestrial homochirality,' says Cuccia. 'Not only does this research have exciting implications regarding the origin of homochirality but the interaction of organic molecules with crystalline materials is an always expanding realm for chemists, biochemists and biologists.'
Cuccia's goal is to provide a molecular-level rationale for stereoselective adsorption. He says he plans to use classical crystal growing techniques and modern instrumental and computational methods to study how chiral molecules interact with different chiral crystalline surfaces.
Original publication: Pui Shan Monica Cheung and Louis A. Cuccia, Chem. Commun., 2009.
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