Meteorite amino acid triggers nanocavity formation in common clay

Meteorite amino acid triggers nanocavity formation in common clay
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Apr 10, 2025

Researchers from the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University have discovered that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid commonly found on meteorites, can induce the formation of nanocavities in the mineral montmorillonite clay. This unexpected finding suggests a novel mechanism by which extraterrestrial molecules could have influenced the prebiotic chemistry that led to life on Earth.

The study, part of the Dutch Research Council's Planetary and ExoPlanetary Science Programme (PEPSci), adds new depth to the "warm little pond" theory. This theory proposes that interactions between minerals and organic compounds in shallow water environments catalyzed the formation of life's building blocks. While past research has focused on biologically relevant amino acids, the new work turns to GABA, which plays no known role in protein synthesis and interacts only weakly with clays.

"Because of its widespread occurrence on meteorites, we thought it would be interesting to investigate its potential role," said study co-author Annemieke Petrignani of the University of Amsterdam. "The results really surprised us!"

PhD candidate Orr Rose Bezaly, together with Petrignani and Helen King of Utrecht University, exposed montmorillonite clay to varying GABA concentrations. Using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and electron microscopy, they observed a unique partial exfoliation process-where clay layers begin to peel away from the inside-coinciding with the creation of nanocavities.

This atypical exfoliation is new not only to prebiotic chemistry but also to broader materials science. "We are the first to report on this, and we think it can be quite relevant," Petrignani noted. "The nanoscale cavities we observe could facilitate the compartmentalisation that is a fundamental requirement of a prebiotic system."

Bezaly added that such confined spaces may create local disequilibria, essential for driving the synthesis of early biomolecules. "This is most relevant to chemistry that requires low water activity, such as polymerisation," Bezaly said. "Our discovery thus points us towards a feasible research route aimed at understanding nanoscale processes leading to the emergence of life."

Beyond origin-of-life implications, the exfoliation process may have future applications in sustainable clay processing and novel material design.

Still, Petrignani cautions that the research is in its early stages. "We need more research to obtain deeper insights, for instance into the chemical dynamics in the nanocavities, what formation pathway could be induced, and also if novel, larger molecules are formed, how these could then leave the cavities."

Research Report:Meteorite-common amino acid induces clay exfoliation and abiotic compartment formation