Abiotic formation of hexoses and disaccharides in aqueous microdroplets

Abstract

emitter. This study demonstrates the abiotic formation of monosaccharides and disaccharides, such as xylobiose and maltose, providing a possible link between prebiotic sugar synthesis and extant carbohydrate biochemistry. Hexose formation and disaccharide synthesis are driven by the unique air water interface of microdroplets, where partial solvation, pH extremes, and fast mass transfer kinetics enable abiotic transformations.

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