Solvent constraints for biopolymer folding and evolution in extraterrestrial environments

TL;DR

This study explores how different solvents, including those found in space, influence the folding and evolution of biopolymers, expanding the understanding of potential extraterrestrial biochemistries.

Contribution

It introduces a framework combining information and energy landscape theories to evaluate solvent effects on biopolymer stability and evolution in extraterrestrial environments.

Findings

Water and several other solvents support biopolymer folding.

A ranking of solvents based on biopolymer compatibility is provided.

Many compatible solvents are found in space environments.

Abstract

We propose that spontaneous folding and molecular evolution of biopolymers are two universal aspects that must concur for life to happen. These aspects are fundamentally related to the chemical composition of biopolymers and crucially depend on the solvent in which they are embedded. We show that molecular information theory and energy landscape theory allow us to explore the limits that solvents impose on biopolymer existence. We consider 54 solvents, including water, alcohols, hydrocarbons, halogenated solvents, aromatic solvents, and low molecular weight substances made up of elements abundant in the universe, which may potentially take part in alternative biochemistries. We find that along with water, there are many solvents for which the liquid regime is compatible with biopolymer folding and evolution. We present a ranking of the solvents in terms of biopolymer compatibility. Many of these solvents have been found in molecular clouds or may be expected to occur in extrasolar planets.