Shunts,
alternative
pathways
in
chemical
reaction
networks,
are
ubiquitous
Nature,
enabling
adaptability
to
external
and
internal
stimuli.
We
introduce
a
network
(CRN)
which
the
recovery
of
Michael-accepting
species
is
driven
by
oxidation
chemistry.
Using
weak
oxidants
can
enable
access
two
shunts
within
this
CRN
with
different
kinetics
reduced
number
side
reactions
compared
main
cycle
that
strong
oxidants.
Further,
we
strategy
recycle
one
products
under
flow
conditions
partially
reverse
control
product
speciation
throughout
time.
These
findings
new
levels
over
artificial
CRNs,
redox
chemistry,
narrowing
gap
between
synthetic
natural
systems.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
145(24), P. 13357 - 13370
Published: June 6, 2023
Coenzymes
are
involved
in
≥30%
of
enzymatic
reactions
and
likely
predate
enzymes,
going
back
to
prebiotic
chemistry.
However,
they
considered
poor
organocatalysts,
thus
their
pre-enzymatic
function
remains
unclear.
Since
metal
ions
known
catalyze
metabolic
the
absence
here
we
explore
influence
on
coenzyme
catalysis
under
conditions
relevant
origin
life
(20–75
°C,
pH
5–7.5).
Specifically,
Fe
or
Al,
two
most
abundant
metals
Earth's
crust,
were
found
exhibit
substantial
cooperative
effects
transamination
catalyzed
by
pyridoxal
(PL),
a
scaffold
used
roughly
4%
all
enzymes.
At
75
°C
7.5
mol
%
loading
PL/metal
ion,
Fe3+-PL
was
be
90-fold
faster
at
catalyzing
than
PL
alone
174-fold
Fe3+
alone,
whereas
Al3+-PL
85-fold
38-fold
Al3+
alone.
Under
milder
conditions,
>1000
times
those
Pyridoxal
phosphate
(PLP)
exhibited
similar
behavior
PL.
Experimental
theoretical
mechanistic
studies
indicate
that
rate-determining
step
PL-metal-catalyzed
is
different
from
metal-free
biological
PL-based
catalysis.
Metal
coordination
lowers
pKa
PL-metal
complex
several
units
slows
hydrolysis
imine
intermediates
up
259-fold.
Coenzymes,
specifically
derivatives,
could
have
useful
catalytic
even
before
Chemical Society Reviews,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
52(21), P. 7359 - 7388
Published: Jan. 1, 2023
This
tutorial
review
revises
the
main
synthetic
pathways
of
prebiotic
chemistry,
suggesting
how
they
could
be
wired
through
common
intermediates
and
catalytic
cycles,
as
well
boundary
conditions
under
which
would
become
protometabolic.
Chem,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(5), P. 1528 - 1540
Published: Feb. 27, 2024
Hydrogen
(H2)
has
powered
microbial
metabolism
for
roughly
4
billion
years.
The
recent
discovery
that
it
also
fuels
geochemical
analogs
of
the
most
ancient
biological
carbon
fixation
pathway
sheds
light
on
origin
metabolism.
However,
remains
unclear
whether
H2
can
sustain
more
complex
nonenzymatic
reaction
networks.
Here,
we
show
drives
reductive
amination
six
ketoacids
and
glyoxylate
to
give
corresponding
amino
acids
in
good
yields
using
ammonium
concentrations
ranging
from
6
150
mM.
Catalytic
amounts
nickel
or
ground
meteorites
enable
these
reactions
at
22°C
pH
8.
same
conditions
promote
an
H2-dependent
ketoacid-forming
aldol
chemistry
co-occurs
with
amination,
producing
a
continuous
network
resembling
acid
synthesis
metabolic
core
microbes.
results
support
hypothesis
earliest
biochemical
networks
could
have
emerged
without
enzymes
RNA.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
61(51)
Published: Oct. 17, 2022
Hydrogen
(H2
)
is
a
geological
source
of
reducing
electrons
that
thought
to
have
powered
the
metabolism
last
universal
common
ancestor
all
extant
life,
and
still
metabolized
by
various
modern
organisms.
It
has
been
suggested
H2
drove
geochemical
analogue
some
or
reverse
Krebs
cycle
at
emergence
metabolic
network,
catalyzed
metals,
but
this
yet
be
demonstrated
experimentally.
Herein,
we
show
three
consecutive
steps
cycle,
converting
oxaloacetate
into
succinate,
can
driven
without
enzymes
in
one-pot
as
agent
under
mild
conditions
compatible
with
biological
chemistry.
Low
catalytic
amounts
nickel
(10-20
mol
%)
platinum
group
metals
(0.1-1
even
small
ground
meteorites
were
found
promote
reductive
chemistry
temperatures
between
5
60
°C
over
wide
pH
range,
including
7.
These
results
lend
additional
support
hypothesis
geologically
produced
hydrogen
metal
catalysts
could
initiated
early
networks.
Chemistry - A European Journal,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
29(53)
Published: Aug. 14, 2023
Abstract
The
construction
of
hypothetical
environments
to
produce
organic
molecules
such
as
metabolic
intermediates
or
amino
acids
is
the
subject
ongoing
research
into
emergence
life.
Experiments
specifically
focused
on
an
anabolic
approach
typically
rely
a
mineral
catalyst
facilitate
supply
organics
that
may
have
produced
prebiotic
building
blocks
for
Alternatively
true
catalytic
system,
could
be
sacrificially
oxidized
in
production
organics,
necessitating
emergent
‘life’
turn
virgin
materials
each
iteration
processes.
aim
this
perspective
view
current
‘metabolism‐first’
literature
through
lens
chemistry
evaluate
need
higher
activity
and
analyses.
While
many
elegant
studies
detailed
chemical
under
geologically
plausible
biologically
relevant
conditions,
few
appear
do
so
with
sub‐stoichiometric
amounts
metals
minerals.
Moving
toward
rigorous
analyses
necessary
demonstrate
viability
elusive
cornerstone
hypotheses:
catalysis.
We
emphasize
future
work
should
decreased
loading,
increased
productivity,
and/or
evidence
Life,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
13(5), P. 1177 - 1177
Published: May 12, 2023
A
protometabolic
approach
to
the
origins
of
life
assumes
that
conserved
biochemistry
metabolism
has
direct
continuity
with
prebiotic
chemistry.
One
most
important
amino
acids
in
modern
biology
is
aspartic
acid,
serving
as
a
nodal
metabolite
for
synthesis
many
other
essential
biomolecules.
Aspartate’s
complicated
by
instability
its
precursor,
oxaloacetate.
In
this
paper,
we
show
use
biologically
relevant
cofactor
pyridoxamine,
supported
metal
ion
catalysis,
sufficiently
fast
offset
oxaloacetate’s
degradation.
Cu2+-catalysed
transamination
oxaloacetate
pyridoxamine
achieves
around
5%
yield
within
1
h,
and
can
operate
across
broad
range
pH,
temperature,
pressure.
addition,
downstream
product
β-alanine
may
also
take
place
same
reaction
system
at
very
low
yields,
directly
mimicking
an
archaeal
route.
Amino
group
transfer
pyridoxal
shown
from
aspartate
alanine,
but
reverse
(alanine
aspartate)
shows
poor
yield.
Overall,
our
results
related
indeed
be
synthesised
via
pathways
foreshadow
presence
simple
ions.
Chem,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(8), P. 2564 - 2576
Published: June 13, 2024
The
relationship
between
genetic
molecules
and
metabolism
is
one
of
the
longest-standing
problems
for
origin
life.
A
central
molecule
within
early
coenzyme
nicotinamide
adenine
dinucleotide
(NAD(H)),
a
modified
ribonucleotide
reducing
agent.
Yet,
without
enzymes,
NADH
does
not
reduce
carbonyl
compounds,
its
primary
metabolic
substrates,
leading
to
an
apparent
paradox
regarding
role
in
evolution
metabolism.
We
now
report
that
abundant
metal
ions
turn
on
nonenzymatic,
stereoselective,
potentially
primordial
reduction
reaction
keto
acids
by
NADH.
Kinetic,
mechanistic,
computational
studies
elucidate
mechanism
way
stereochemistry
transferred.
Complexes
metals
with
RNA-derived
coenzymes
could
have
mediated
transition
from
inorganic
organic
agents
propagation
chirality
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
145(17), P. 9672 - 9678
Published: April 24, 2023
Shunts,
alternative
pathways
in
chemical
reaction
networks
(CRNs),
are
ubiquitous
nature,
enabling
adaptability
to
external
and
internal
stimuli.
We
introduce
a
CRN
which
the
recovery
of
Michael-accepting
species
is
driven
by
oxidation
chemistry.
Using
weak
oxidants
can
enable
access
two
shunts
within
this
with
different
kinetics
reduced
number
side
reactions
compared
main
cycle
that
strong
oxidants.
Furthermore,
we
strategy
recycle
one
products
under
flow
conditions
partially
reverse
control
product
speciation
throughout
time.
These
findings
new
levels
over
artificial
CRNs,
redox
chemistry,
narrowing
gap
between
synthetic
natural
systems.
Accounts of Chemical Research,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
57(20), P. 3032 - 3043
Published: Oct. 5, 2024
ConspectusFamously
found
written
on
the
blackboard
of
physicist
Richard
Feynman
after
his
death
was
phrase,
"What
I
cannot
create,
do
not
understand."
From
this
perspective,
recreating
origin
life
in
lab
is
a
necessary
condition
for
achieving
deep
theoretical
understanding
biology.
The
"metabolism-first"
hypothesis
one
leading
frameworks
life.
A
complex
self-organized
reaction
network
thought
to
have
been
driven
into
existence
as
chemical
path
least
resistance
release
free
energy
environment
that
could
otherwise
be
dissipated,
rerouting
from
planetary
processes
organic
chemistry.
To
increase
complexity,
network,
initially
under
catalysis
provided
by
its
geochemical
environment,
must
produced
catalysts
pruned
existing
flux
through
or
expanded
it
new
directions.
This
boot-strapping
process
would
gradually
lessen
dependence
initial
catalytic
and
allow
persist
using
own
making.
Eventually,
leads
seemingly
inseparable
interdependence
at
heart
biology
between
(coenzymes,
enzymes,
genes)
metabolic
pathways
synthesize
them.
Experimentally,
primary
challenge
recreate
conditions
where
such
emerged.
However,
near
infinite
number
microenvironments
sources
available
early
Earth
elsewhere
poses
an
enormous
combinatorial
challenge.
constrain
search,
our
has
surveying
reactions
making
up
core
some
most
ancient
chemolithoautotrophic
metabolisms,
which
consist
only
small
repeating
mechanisms,
occur
nonenzymatically.
give
fresh
viewpoint
first
part
account,
we
organized
results
search
(along
with
important
other
laboratories)
mechanism,
rather
than
pathway.
We
expect
identifying
common
set
each
type
mechanism
will
help
pinpoint
emergence
resembling
metabolism.
Many
mechanisms
were
wide
variety
nonenzymatic
conditions.
Others,
carboxylate
phosphorylation
C-C
bond
formation
CO